Dogwood Holiday Heroes Parties 2022 Sponsored by Southern Security
That special time of the year when children and youth are wide-eyed awaiting their gifts from families — and Santa — is nearing.
However, some children and youth across Mississippi are possibly looking at a holiday season without gifts. That’s where, for more than 20 years, Youth Villages and its Holiday Heroes campaign has stepped in and made sure these families can experience the joy of the holidays because of the generosity of others.
“Holiday Heroes means that the most vulnerable youth in Mississippi get to wake up and celebrate the magic of the holidays,” said Paige McCormick, Youth Villages assistant director for Mississippi. “They get to be kids during this special time of the year. Without Holiday Heroes, many of the children we serve would not have anything for Christmas.”
Youth Villages has 11 locations throughout Mississippi (including the Jackson area), and Holiday Heroes will provide gifts to around 400 children and youth statewide. Children and youth who are given gifts through the campaign are receiving services from Youth Villages like Intercept, an intensive in-home program that meets children and families at a critical crossroads and helps them find their way to well-being; and LifeSet, a program that helps youth aging out of foster care transition to adulthood.
There are three ways to contribute to Holiday Heroes:
- Request a child’s wish list from Youth Villages and buy the gifts. Youth Villages asks shoppers to spend $150 for one child’s wish list. Those who are shopping can bring the gifts to the Youth Villages office in your area. The deadline to shop for gifts is Dec. 4.
- Donate gift cards to be given to the families so they can shop for their children’s gifts.
- Make monetary contributions online at youthvillages.org/holidayheroes (scroll down to Mississippi and click and follow directions on how to donate).