We are certainly thinking quite early about Christmas gifts this year. We are again hoping to meet our performance goal of 88 gift cards to deliver to families of children in need at The Guidance Center. These families are enrolled in an intensive homebased program which delivers bundled therapy and case-management services to babies, or young children and their parents and guardians. Treatment is needed when either member of the parent/child dyad are managing and trying to recover from issues such medical conditions, parental isolation, lack of family/social support, parent or child mental health conditions, developmental delays, intergenerational trauma and other concerns that impact the attachment relationships between parent and child. All families are low income and unable to access private health-care insurance. We are seeking a total of 88 $25 gift cards to Meijer or Wall-mart ( stores which are most accessible to our families) in order to help 44 children. Agency staff will distribute 2 cards for each child, so the parent can purchase both toys and clothing. Last year we collected more than this total and so were able to help more children in the program. 

 After Covid was over Greenfield decided to continue the gift card system for our Giving Tree because we heard how much parents felt a sense of dignity and joy with being able to choose and shop for their children. We also found it helped with making things more equitable within and among families. Cards need to be brought to the church by December 7. This will make it possible for staff to get the cards to families the week of December 8 so they can make arrangements to shop. Please help us bring Christmas smiles to our families once again this year and meet our goal of 88 cards!