It seems like each year we fill the time leading up to the holidays with festivities of every sort: shopping for gifts, decorating our homes and workplaces, and attending an array of holiday parties. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, we all have our own holiday traditions, and regardless of the origin of celebration, they make this time of year truly special.
So it seemed clear that as we prepare to celebrate with our own families and friends, that we come together to give back to our community as well. The Volunteers of America Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program allows volunteers to sponsor a family in need for the holidays. AFG sponsored a family who had recently lost their home in a house fire. Zeneva was struggling to find a new home and was unsure of how she would be able to celebrate the holiday with King and Malachi given their current circumstance.
As we got to know Zeneva, we learned that she has worked hard to provide a good life for herself and her boys, attending Baker College and recently starting a new job. Though facing adversity, Zeneva continued to do everything in her power to find a new home and enjoy this holiday season with her sons. I think we can all relate to Zeneva’s story in the sense that at some point or another, we’ve felt the unequivocal need to provide and protect for those that we love—whether that be for our own children, our parents, siblings, or maybe even our friends.
After learning more about Zeneva, King, and Malachi, we came together to provide the boys with a variety of gifts. Games and toys for learning purposes, as well as dinosaurs and character bed sets, were among some of the things Zeneva hoped to have for her boys this year. We even made sure we gave a little something to Mom!
It was a wonderful experience for all of us to contribute to Zeneva, King, and Malachi’s holiday celebrations. Zeneva’s perseverance is honorable and inspirational. We wish the best for Zeneva, King, and Malachi, and hope that their story will help bring the spirit of the season to all of you.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Austin Financial Group!
Special thank you to Volunteers of America for their help throughout this process, and for continuing their mission to help families during the holidays.
