House of Hope is doing their part to make Christmas brighter for area families with their annual holiday event, Chimneys of Hope.
Held this past Sunday, Chimneys of Hope provided fun holiday activities for the children and allowed parents to shop for gifts for those children, all free of charge.
"Chimneys of Hope was a huge success," said House of Hope's Alex Sprinkle. "We had 29 families participate this year. Among the 29 families, 85 children have gifts wrapped and ready for Christmas."
Sprinkle explained why Chimneys of Hope began.
"Christmas can be such a difficult season. Families experience grief, guilt, financial hardship and the list continues," said Sprinkle. "Out of a desire to rewrite the script for Christmas, Chimneys of Hope was started. This event is more than just giving toys to parents. It provides an opportunity for parents to shop through a toy store and select the perfect gift for their children. The team wraps the toys and labels them for each kid. The hope is that the stress of the holiday season is alleviated, even for a moment. The event provides an opportunity for kids to be kids."
During this year's Chimneys of Hope event, children decorated Christmas ornaments, drank hot chocolate and ate lots of delicious Christmas treats.
Said Sprinkle, "They got to enjoy the special parts that create Christmas cheer!"
While Chimneys of Hope was created by Branson's House of Hope, Sprinkle was quick to point out that it truly is a community effort.
"Riley's Treasures provided an incredible space to host the event. They provided toys and many of the staff joined to volunteer during the event," Sprinkle noted. "The Branson Landing generously provided new toys to add this year. Tiers by Stephanie, Boba Joes, Parlor Donuts and Grandma Ruth’s provided lots of Christmas snacks. Christian Action Ministries provided snacks, hot cocoa and toys for the event."
Sprinkle expressed her gratitude to all who helped make Chimneys of Hope such a success.
"Thank you to the community businesses who donated toys and sweets," Sprinkle shared. "I am incredibly thankful for my friends and coworkers who joined in to watch the kiddos, help make crafts and wrap gifts for hours. This was no easy task. Lastly, I am thankful for my coworkers/family. Tracy and Andrew give me the freedom to run with the event and any wild ideas I might add. They allow me, year after year, to say 'yes' to a big task and jump in to make every detail perfect. While Christmas can be a difficult time for many, having a solid community and people in your corner makes it a whole lot brighter."
Comments