Christmas Trees and Gifts delivered to Families Who Have a Child with Cancer
5 year old Emmanuel Sandoval with 10 month old brother Sammy after receiving a Christmas tree through Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation’s program Project Christmas. Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — Each year, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) pairs families in the Tri-County area who have a child with cancer with supporters to help make their Christmas dreams come true through their holiday program Project Christmas.
Through the Project Christmas program, TBCF staff collect each child’s specific wish lists and shop for the items they want and need. Then, TBCF staff finds supporters to “adopt” a family for the holidays. Adopting a family entails purchasing a gift for not only the child undergoing cancer treatment, but also their brothers and sisters. The value of each gift is $100. Additionally, each family that is adopted is provided a Christmas trees, Christmas lights, a $50 grocery gift card for a holiday meal, stockings, hot chocolate and candy canes. Lastly, the trees and gifts are delivered by TBCF to the family’s home in time for Christmas!
The goal of Project Holiday is to alleviate the financial stress of shopping as well as the time and energy associated to it. Often, it is simply not possible for parents to go shopping due to the fact that they are under financial duress or can’t leave their sick child.
“The holidays can be a difficult time for these families whose sole focus is on the health of their sick child,” said Lindsey Leonard, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Executive Director. “Through Project Christmas, our hope is to provide some joy to these children and families while bringing some needed relief for the parents/caregivers. Being able to help families and see children’s faces light up is what the holiday season is really all about,” said Leonard.
To make these efforts happen, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation has relied heavily on the support of our generous community in the Tri-County area.
“Getting to deliver Project Christmas gifts and trees has been such a highlight of our holiday season for the past six years. Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation treats each family they serve as if they are their own family. It is such a blessing to work with them.” stated Susie Perry, a long-time supporter and volunteer with TBCF.
“This has been an eye-opening experience being able to help these families, while they are going through so much. I hold these families near to my heart, even though I don’t know them personally. Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is such a wonderful organization with the most amazing people that are so dedicated to these families. I feel truly lucky to be able to be involved in the efforts.” exclaimed Summaer Cole, who has lovingly rallied within the community to collect toys and food for our families each year through our Project Holiday Programs.
“We really appreciate everything you (TBCF) have done for us since the very beginning. You are always so attentive and always thinking about us. The helped we’ve received from TBCF has helped us with so much from the financial support to all of the emotional support you have given us, especially our children, said the Sandoval Family.
The Sandoval family received Project Christmas as well as a Project Turkey delivery of Thanksgiving food last month through our Project Holiday Program.
This year, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation projects they will help 190 families in the Tri-Counties.
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is a non-profit organization providing financial and emotional support to families of children with cancer living in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties. Services are providing to families that have a child diagnosed with cancer up to age 18 and continue until they reach 21 years of age. To learn more about Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation and how you can support families that have a child with cancer please visit www.teddybearcancerfoundation.org, 805-962-7466 or www.teddybearcancerfoundation.org.