Harford County Opens their Heart to the Homeless at Christmas; Donate Toys and Items to Families at Harford Family House

From Harford Family House:

Numerous Individuals, Companies and Churches provide toys and other needed items to the Families at Harford Family House for Christmas.

“At Christmas our office looks like Santa’s Workshop” said Joyce Duffy, Executive Director and CEO of Harford Family House.

Beginning in October 22 local individuals, churches and corporations began adopting the families at Harford Family House, providing not only toys but holiday meals, warm pajamas, hats and c gloves, handmade children’s blankets and more.

On December 1st M&T Bank at Bulle Rock held its annual Christmas party for HFH’s children. On December 22nd the Aberdeen Police held a Christmas dinner for all the family members at HFH. Women of Vision did a craft day, helping the children of HFH to make gifts for their parents and the list goes on.

Toy Drives were held by Susquehanna Bank, Edgewood Elementary School the Denny’s Restaurant in Perryville, the Harford County Realtors Association, Saxon’s Jewelers Bel Air and Aberdeen locations and Celebree Learning Centers. HFH’s apartment sponsors provided toys for the residents of the apartments they sponsor, and Kinder Care Learning Center and Churchville Presbyterian Church did hat and glove drives for HFH’s families.

Joppa Christian Church made pillow cases and goodies bags for the children, Gove Presbyterian made Christmas stockings for each child and Union UMC provided clothing, some of it “handmade”, for each child in the shelter.

C&S Warehouse, CACI, Keene Dodge, ManTech, Home Depot, Coldwell Banker an SECU all adopted families for the holidays.

The Bel Air WOANTEC group decided that instead of exchanging gifts, each member would purchase a gift for one of the mom’s at Harford Family House so they would have something under the tree. Santa on Wheels brought gifts for the Miller family and one gift for each child at HFH.

On Christmas Eve, Automotive Authority provided a van, stuffed with gifts for one lucky mom at HFH, giving her the opportunity to seek living wage employment.

“The generosity is overwhelming. With the help of our community, families at HFH have a wonderful Christmas, and learn that they are cared for “by people they don’t even know”. So often, our children and families have lost everything, so each toy, blanket or meal means so much.”

Thank you to all of “Santa’s Helpers” who made this Christmas special for the moms, dads and children at Harford Family House.

Currently HFH has 28 apartments and houses used to provide shelter and support to families experiencing homelessness, helping them move from homelessness to hope and independence.

Still in the “giving/helping mode” call Ryan McIntosh or Tiffany Simmons at 410-273-6700 to see how you can help by volunteering at HFH. Check out our website at www.harfordfamilyhouse.org.

Katie Restivo sorts the warm pajamas donated by the employees of Jones Junction Toyota.

Jack Henkel, Olen Huffman, Abby Henkel, Lisa Henkel, and John Henkel delivered toys collected by Celebree Learning Centers

Elisa and Carol Rehak brought dinner and gifts for the residents of 4 apartments.

Lance Hersh, Andy Maccord, Liz Birth, Mary Landon and Pam Carr of Saxon’s Jewelers in Aberdeen and all of the staff at Saxon’s adopted a family at HFH for Christmas.

Linda Dempsey and Carol Himmer of Grove Presbyterian Church brought stockings stuffed with goodies for each child at HFH.