Parish's Giving Tree benefits Give Me A Chance

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OGDEN — This year’s holiday season looks different from previous times. The COVID-19 pandemic has left many people with medical, physical, mental and financial struggles. To help members of their community who are in need, Catholics at Holy Family Parish are undertaking their traditional Giving Tree, but with a twist.

This is the second year that the parish program will be supporting Give Me A Chance, an organization run by the Daughters of Charity that has the mission “to empower low-income women by teaching marketable skills & providing opportunities that lead to self-sufficiency, while also enriching children’s lives through education,” according to the nonprofit’s web page.

“We will be supporting 25 families, which include 76 children at GMAC,” said Sue Durbano, who coordinates the Giving Tree program at Holy Family Parish, adding that the parish is blessed to be able to offer this ministry. “Families in our community are struggling emotionally and financially, and that we are able to give them support to have a nice Christmas for their children is such a blessing.”

Although this year’s Giving Tree program has been running for only a few weeks, Durbano said she is overwhelmed by the support they already have received.

“I think it is very important to help each other, especially this year. I think everyone enjoys the Giving Tree; it is a way to help people right here in the Ogden area. Whether the donation is large or small, it all adds up and makes a huge impact for the families at GMAC,” she said.

This year’s Giving Tree looks a bit different from last year’s, which asked parishioners to purchase items for recipients.

“Father Bill Wheaton [pastor] had the idea to ask for cash donations from the Holy Family parishioners and we will use that money to purchase gift cards that the families can use to buy Christmas gifts for their children,” Durbano said.

This way, parishioners won’t feel pressured to go out and shop for items, making an unnecessary trip that is discouraged because of the pandemic.

When Durbano asked Daughter of Charity Sr. Martha Garcia, executive director of GMAC, to return the Giving Tree applications for the families in need, despite the fact that the request was made in a short period of time, “all the families had them. … No one delayed getting the application in,” Durbano said.

The gift cards will be distributed in personalized gift bags for each family.  

“Each child will have an envelope labeled with their name with a gift card enclosed. Each child will also receive a small goodie bag with treats. We will package it up and give it to Sr. Martha at GMAC, and she will have the families pick it up,” Durbano said.

In addition, the Giving Tree program is giving the parents a separate gift card to purchase items for a Christmas dinner.

The parish has a strong connection to GMAC; many parishioners regularly volunteer at GMAC, Durbano said. “GMAC has a thriving after-school program that supports the children in the community. They also support the [mothers] of these children to help them learn skills that will help them support their families. They are changing families’ lives by supporting the whole family.”