To the Editor:

Now that the rush of the holidays is over, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the caring, kindness, and generosity of a multitude of congregations, corporations, organizations, and individuals over the past year. HomeFront can’t thank you enough for all you do to help us give hopeless, homeless, and very low-income families every opportunity for an independent and rewarding future. You provided them with food, donated clothing, furniture, and household supplies. You tutored children and mentored parents. You changed lives.

These things give our families the “necessities.” But the joy and wonder that should be in the eyes of every child at Christmas isn’t a necessity, and you made it happen for 2,284 children this year. Your generosity and thoughtfulness in providing presents made wishes (and dreams) come true. I’m sorry you all couldn’t have seen for yourselves how much it meant, not only to the children but to their parents as well, who knew they were powerless to make Christmas merry.

Our thanks to everyone who embodied the Christmas spirit. We are indeed blessed to have so many people who care enough to brighten the lives of impoverished children during such a busy time of year. And thank you, people of Mercer County, for remembering the homeless in so many ways all year long.

Connie Mercer

Founder and CEO, HomeFront