By: Gloria Sanchez GRANDcares Site Coordinator, Adams County
Raising a child
nowadays is no easy task. There is so
much that one must be aware of -
the importance of mental health,
a positive self-image, developing empathy, cyber-security, bullying and so on- and so many things to
stay on top of – academic achievement, extracurricular activities, medical and
dental visits – not to mention the basics such as food, shelter, clothing. So how does one do it all? With all the constant day to day pressures
throughout the year, the turn of the holiday season only means more added
pressure and stress. Instead of being
overcome with holiday cheer, many families become overwhelmed with incessant
worry. The stress created by the worry
of not having enough resources to provide a Thanksgiving dinner, or the
uncertainty of whether or not the children will have a present under the
Christmas tree can be very taxing on a caregiver. And not being in the right state of mind can
be reflected on the quality of care and attention that the child receives. Therefore, managing stress on a regular basis
is definitely a healthy habit, but making it a priority is extremely important,
especially during the most wonderful time of the year. Fortunately, many organizations of the Denver
metro area have already recognized this and have taken measures to help ensure
that families throughout the mile high city have a bountiful Thanksgiving meal
and a very Merry Christmas and Holiday season.
Two of the largest
community events that occur yearly are Operation Freebird- a tradition that started nearly a decade ago
and feeds approximately 3,000 families- and Dolls for
Daughters/Toys for Boys a
program that began in 2007 and now provides a new toy to 14,000+ children in
Colorado. Along with these two
mega-magnificent events, there are several other organizations that offer
holiday resources that include holiday meals and/or adopt-a-child
programs. Among the popular ones are, The Denver Rescue Mission, Volunteers
of America, Salvation Army, A
Precious Child, The Christmas Tree Project and Families Forward.
While the objective of these organizations is
to provide help and relief during the holidays, there may be some specific
requirements and it is important to call in advance or visit their website to
get all of the necessary information.
Another way to access local holiday resources is by calling 211, and a
well-informed operator can provide resource information based on need and
zipcode. So, although families may be
encountering challenging and difficult situations, this holiday season every
caregiver deserves the chance and satisfaction of serving a warm meal and every
child deserves the magic that comes with opening up a Christmas gift!
Happy Holidays!
