Over the last few weeks we’ve been musing on this blog about the impact of the community’s generosity to the women at Calvary.  All of the build-up – the donations, the holiday parties, the hard work of volunteers and staff – culminated in a fantastic holiday celebration at each of Calvary’s programs over Christmas.

The women at Calvary celebrated with dedicated volunteers, staff members and friends, including:

• Special holiday meals provided by Darnell, Cuetta, the Washington DC Jewish Community Center and Temple Sinai.
• Awesome overnight volunteers like Anna, Donald, Jude, Patty and Tovah.
• Other volunteers and donors who dropped off gifts and food and helped spread the holiday spirit.

On Christmas morning each woman received a personal gift bag, put together just for her.  All of the gift bags contained two new sweat suits, thermals, socks, a fleece blanket, a hat, gloves, gift boxes filled with toiletries, and more.  Each woman also received personal and much needed gifts like slippers, pajamas and backpacks.

(Special thanks to our volunteer Joanna for putting all 46 of these bags together!)

It’s great fun to be at Calvary on Christmas morning when there gifts are given.  Most of the women don’t know what’s coming, and when they see those big bags with their names on them, some laugh out loud, some sit in stunned silence,  a few just shake their heads.

One woman said, “I have never had a Christmas like this one in my life – ever.  I can’t say thank you enough times.”

On behalf of everyone at Calvary, thank you.

**If you have not had a chance to give to Calvary yet this holiday season, it’s not too late.  Make a donation now to support the women at Calvary who are working to make the new year a turning point in their lives.