For many parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in our community, the holidays bring significant financial stress and pressure. For more than 20 years, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) has partnered with businesses and donors from throughout the community to support families with its program – Holiday Giving.
“So many parents have to choose between spending money on gifts for the holidays or covering critical medical and household expenses, and that situation can be even more difficult for the parents of children with disabilities,” said Sara Pease, Assistant Director of Children, Youth & Their Families. “Knowing that there is a program like Holiday Giving that can support not just their child with a disability, but their whole family, allows them to focus on the things that matter: quality time together.”
What is Holiday Giving?
The Arc’s Holiday Giving program provides toys, clothes, and food support to families with children with IDD under the age of 21, as well as their siblings, even if they don’t have IDD. The program has grown steadily, from its first year when approximately 62 children were supported, to over 300 children supported today.
Families apply for Holiday Giving and provide gift suggestions for each child. What makes The Arc’s program unique is the commitment to giving items that reflect each child’s interests, needs, and abilities and supporting every child in the household—not just the child with a disability.
“Our donors are giving gifts that kids are truly excited to open,” said Caroline Slobodzian, Director of Development. “They’re thoughtfully chosen to align with what families have specifically requested.”
The support doesn’t stop with gifts. Recognizing the added financial pressures many families face during the holidays, The Arc also provides grocery gift cards to support each family in putting a holiday meal together.
“Each family receives a minimum of $100 to a grocery store of their choice,” said Sara. “With inflation and rising costs, food is expensive and can be a barrier for many of the families we serve. Some parents get very emotional because they’re not expecting this type of support. It truly makes a huge difference for their family.”
Words of Gratitude
Following the holidays, The Arc hears directly from many of the families who participate in Holiday Giving with words of thanks.
“Christmas was so much brighter and more fulfilling with the support from The Arc,” said [Shannon], a mother of two “As a single mom with limited support, it’s incredibly hard to meet all the girls’ needs and give them extra fun items. The Arc’s Holiday Giving program has been vital to our Christmas, and we cannot express our gratitude enough!”
Another parent, [Robert], shared his gratitude in a handwritten note: “I’m incredibly thankful for everything The Arc did for me and my daughter. She had so much more to open and play with on Christmas. The clothes were probably the biggest thing. She was in desperate need of winter clothes. She loved everything so much.”
This year’s success wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible generosity of Holiday Giving donors, volunteers, and employees. From shopping for gifts to delivering everything to families, everyone’s time and effort is a powerful reminder of the difference that can be made when people come together as a community.
“We are incredibly grateful to the many donors who make this program possible,” said Caroline. “This program is complex, and we would not be able to support these families and children without the many generous people and businesses throughout the community.”
As The Arc reflects on the program’s growth over the past 20 years, we are inspired by the impact it has made on so many lives. This holiday season, we celebrate not just the gifts under the tree but the kindness and love that bring us all closer together. Thank you for being part of this journey and helping us make the holidays brighter for families in need.