For eight days, the Tallahassee Democrats have cooperated with Catholic charities to carry out a Christmas contact event to focus on local families in need of help this Christmas. This is how you can help.

This family of three consists of a single mother and her two young children. Last summer, the family was preparing for the arrival of her new baby, but the baby was born prematurely and had several health problems. The baby spent her first three months in the neonatal intensive care unit. This situation caused financial pressure and caused the mother to stop working. During and after her child was discharged from the hospital, the mother has been living with a medically-needed baby. 

Day 4: Blankets, Barbie dolls and bicycles on the wish list | 2021 Christmas Connection Case

Day 5: Fire destroyed two families; give pots and pans, puzzle pieces | High resolution stock photo | CLIPARTO 2021 Christmas Connection Case

Day 6: Two-time cancer survivor raises 5 grandchildren | 2021 Christmas Connection Case

Key items: car payment assistance, car tires, furniture, food, gasoline and clothing gift certificates

Mother, 29 years old: gift card for gasoline, groceries and clothes, large

Son, 5 years old: learning toys, toy cars, remote control toys, building blocks, Lego blocks

Daughter, 4 months old: baby toys, baby activity blankets, light-emitting/sounding toys, baby books, size 4 diapers

The family consists of an aunt and four nieces. She and her sister take care of the girl together, but live in different houses. Their mother was the legal guardian until her death due to COVID in August. This aunt has also contracted new coronary pneumonia and is still dealing with health problems. She has not yet obtained permission to return to work, and her bills are in arrears.

Important items: Utility assistance (300 USD/month), towels, quilts and sheets (king-size bed) and pillows

Niece, 12 years old: nail polish, youth jewelry/accessories, bicycle and helmet

Niece, 9 years old: books, youth jewelry/accessories, bicycles and helmets

Niece, 5 years old: bicycle and helmet, soft toy, nail polish

Niece, 3 years old: tricycle and helmet, kitchen/cooking toys, nail polish

This single grandmother is raising her grandson (15). Recently, when her son died, she encountered difficulties, which caused her to fall behind in terms of rent and utility bills because he was helping to support her. Due to her health problems and instability, she was unable to provide Christmas for her grandson.

Important items: food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, blankets-1 queen-size bed, 1 king-size bed

Grandson, 15 years old: CD/MP3 player, tablet

This family of seven includes a mother, her four children, and the children's grandmother and great-grandmother. This mother worked for a long time before COVID until complications of her pregnancy forced her to stop working. She experienced premature delivery and was unable to return to work. Her mother and grandmother can help take care of older children, but they cannot take care of babies and 1-year-old children. 

Important items: food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, paper products, TV, blankets-two large size, two blankets, two baby blankets; pots and pans, tableware, silverware, bath towel set and bathroom carpet, shower curtain , Microwave ovens, clay pots, living room lights; baby bags, strollers, diapers (suitable for 2 babies – 16-18 pounds, 27 pounds and above)

Mother, 23 years old: quilt and bed sheet-large quilt and bed sheet, 4 black curtains, perfume/bath/body products

Son, 4 years old: bicycle and helmet, building blocks, puzzles, scooter, tablet

Daughter, 2 years old: tricycle and helmet, black doll, toy kitchen set

Daughter, 1 year old: black doll, musical toys/musical instruments, learning toys, large floor puzzles

Son, 2 months old: baby toys, musical toys/musical instruments, soft toys, milk bottles and pacifiers

Grandmother, 43 years old: jewelry, perfume and lotion set, shower gel, large quilt

Great-grandmother, 57 years old: jewelry, pots and pans, perfume, ladies wallet, black queen-size bedspread set

A 57-year-old disabled grandmother has been raising her 7-year-old grandson because his mother is missing and his father lives in Alabama. The boy performed well in school. He likes to play games and sports outside. He also likes to watch movies and play board games with his grandmother.

Key items: food, toiletries and cleaning supplies

Grandmother, 57 years old: XXL robe, double bed sheet and extra-large bed sheet

Grandson, 7 years old: remote control toys, bath products, pants, sweatshirts, boys size 6-7, socks

Donate in person: Deliver the donated items to the Christmas Connection warehouse at 2990-2 Apalachee Parkway, near the election supervision office. The warehouse is open from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. Operating days until December 20. The deadline for donating items is December 15. Donors can also get off at Morningstar Storage at 5600 Roanoke Trail in Tallahassee. Business hours are Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm; Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm.

Wish List: Use Christmas to connect Amazon Wish List to shop as early as possible and shop easily. You can view the wish list on TheChristmasConnection.org website.

Blanket Day: Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5, from 10 am to 6 pm, and from 1 pm to 5 pm. New blankets and heaters will be delivered at Apalachee Parkway. A volunteer will help you unload the truck.

Donate online or donate by mail: Donate online at TheChristmasConnection.org or send a check to Christmas Connection, PO Box 20165, Tallahassee, FL 32316.

Adopted family: Fill out a short application form on the website, and the volunteer adoption coordinator will assign you a family in need. All families were referred to us from social service organizations in the Big Bend area.

Organize a Christmas contact fundraiser or holiday party: Gather people in your office, school, church, sports team, family or friends to host a party or fundraiser to benefit neighbors in need. You can register online on the website and then collect gifts, gift cards and/or monetary donations, which can be brought to the collection site during normal business hours.

Volunteer: You can register on the website to donate your time and talents. Due to the new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID), the number of volunteers at one time is limited. The most needed items this year: bicycles, gift cards, blankets, towels, gifts for teenagers, heaters (electricity/space), household items, diapers and non-perishable food. All donations must be new. 

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