It is the time of the year for the FIRM Annual Christmas Celebration! We are told that this is probably the 22nd Annual Christmas Celebration that FIRM has hosted! Even though last year, we had rain, we still had over 300 children attend the event to celebrate the season, receive a Christmas gift, take pictures with Santa and much more. We look forward to an even better event this year on December 17 from 10:00-2:00 PM that will feature more services including haircuts, a winter clothes/jacket giveaway, dental services (details to come soon) and we are still working on a number of more ways we can be a blessing to the refugee community of Fresno. This event will be very exciting, but we NEED your help to make it successful. If you would like to help make this year’s Christmas event the best ever, here are a few ways you can help (all donations are tax deductible):
- Donate a New, Wrapped Toy: Although Toys for Tots will donate hundreds of toys to our event, many children attend the event who have NOT been registered. Every year, we collect approximately 200 new, wrapped toys that are distributed to children in need. You can donate a new, wrapped toy that is marked boy/girl, with the ages 0-3, 4-7 and 8-12. Please feel free to drop off your toys at FIRM at 1940 N Fresno Street, 93703, Monday-Friday from 8:30-5:30 PM.
- Donate Gently Used Winter Clothing OR A Jacket: This year we will do a winter clothing distribution. Through a partnership of Hmong churches in Fresno, we have already collected a LOT of winter clothing for children, but we need plenty more. Please donate gently used or new winter clothing to FIRM as well. We are also trying to collect gently used or new jackets for children, as many of the families we serve do not go to traditional jacket distributions in the community.
- Volunteer: This event takes approximately 75-100 volunteers to run smoothly! We will need help serving food, helping with distributing gifts, wrapping hundreds of presents (we will have our annual wrapping party), help distributing winter clothing, help giving haircuts and more! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Melissa at (559) 487-1500 for more information!
- Financially Support This Event: The Annual Christmas Celebration costs approximately $3,000-$5,000 each year. The generous support of the community has allowed for this event to come each year for the last 22 years! If you would like to financially support this event, feel free to drop off a check to FIRM or mail it to 1940 N Fresno Street, Fresno, CA, 93703.
This event is not possible without you! We look forward to celebrating Christmas with you through continued service to our community!