Neighborhood House collecting donations for local families through holiday programs

ROCHESTER/ROCHESTER HILLS/OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — The community is invited to help spread some holiday spirit and make Christmas magical for local families in financial need.

Neighborhood House helped over 400 low-income children in the greater Rochester area through last year’s Holiday Giving Tree program, and organizers expect even more local families to seek assistance for the program this year.

With continued economic challenges, Neighborhood House anticipates serving the same number, if not more, children in need this holiday season in Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Oakland Township and Addison Township. 

“We are all feeling the effects of inflation, but for families who are already struggling, the holidays can be especially difficult,” Neighborhood House Executive Director Michael Dreon said in a statement. 

“Thanks to the generosity of our community, we can help lighten the load for these families and bring joy to their homes this season.”

Bris Roberts, the director of marketing and communications for Neighborhood House, says many families in the area are struggling leading into the holiday season.

“Our clients are barely making ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck, so this is a huge help for our clients,” she said.

“These are families that otherwise would not be able to afford gifts. It’s a choice for them, it’s a choice between putting food on the table for their children or giving them a gift.”

Neighborhood House recently kicked off its 2024 Holiday Giving Tree program — which includes traditional gift trees and tags in the community, as well as an electronic shopping option — to provide food, clothing and gifts for those in need.

The giving trees hold tags, each assigned to a young person — ages newborn to 18 — in the program with an age-appropriate gift item. 

Through Dec. 3, those who prefer to shop in stores can drop off new toys and clothing for the program at one of four locations — Neighborhood House, 1720 S. Livernois Road; Retro Fitness, 637 N. Main St.; the Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road; and the Auburn Hills city manager’s office, 1827 N. Squirrel Road. All gifts must be new and unwrapped.

The electronic Holiday Giving Tree also allows the community to shop online for the most requested items for struggling families — including hoodies, pajamas, gloves, hats, books, board games, toys and gift cards — and ship them directly to the Neighborhood House by Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Through the Holiday Giving Tree Program, each child receives two gifts or gift cards, a pajama set, a hoodie or sweatshirt, a winter hat, gloves/mittens, one book and a family board game. The program’s success depends on the generosity of community and individual donors. 

Last year, 200 families with over 400 children received clothing and gifts through the program, and this year, organizers hope to serve many more. 

“We try to make it very bountiful so the families that we serve, there is no difference in the gifts they are getting from their peers in this community. For a lot of our families, really these are the gifts that their children will be getting — otherwise there would not be gifts,” Roberts said. 

Participating is simple: Sign up to be a donor at go.ranh.org/2024GTDonors or shop the Giving Tree Amazon Wish List at go.ranh.org/Holidaywishlist.

Neighborhood House is also working with local churches and organizations to facilitate the distribution of holiday food baskets for individuals and families in need. Last year, over 350 families received a food basket. Donations of nonperishable food items, gifts, cash and gift cards can be given anytime, because if the donations aren’t used immediately for the holidays, they can be put toward the food pantry program or other giving programs throughout the year.

“This year, we are actually seeing — in our food pantry — about 20% more than last year, so the need is higher. I’m sure that’s due to inflation and grocery prices skyrocketing,” Roberts said. “Our food pantry always has a need for food.”

For more information, to adopt a family or to make a donation, call the Neighborhood House at (248) 651-5836, ext. 36, or email bris@ranh.org.