Second Annual Holiday Outreach Event Supports Local Families
June 1, 2023 • By Hayley Clement
Organized by the F&A Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Committee, this event brings together the eleven F&A divisions and offices to provide holiday gifts and essential items—including groceries, toiletries and furniture—for Athens residents facing various family, health, financial and other difficulties.
“I was really struggling,” said Jennifer* a local Athenian and participant in this year’s event. “I told the kids Christmas is going to be a little tight this year, but we’ll still have some kind of Christmas. And out of the blue, I get a phone call. And it was almost like my prayers had been answered.”
On the line was Bernard Thomas, who chairs the F&A Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Committee. He introduced himself to Jennifer and asked to learn more about her story.
Jennifer lost her mother and father within a year of each other. Two years later, her ex-husband passed. As a result, Jennifer relocated to the Athens Housing Authority community with her three youngest children.
While starting over as a single mother, she faced medical issues that made it difficult to find work. Still, she said, her children are doing well despite their circumstances. Her eldest son graduated from a local high school in May. Her 16-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, are upcoming juniors—and typical teenagers.
“You know boys; as long as they have a game, they’re good to go,” Jennifer joked. “And beauty items for [my daughter], that’s a big thing because that gets really expensive.”
Throughout the event, each F&A division sponsors one family or seniors. Jennifer’s family received support from the Finance Division through Andre Simmons, the Associate Director of Accounts Payable. After confirming sizes and checking the list twice, the division came together to provide shoes, clothing, gift cards, a new pots and pans set, and other items.
Simmons and Thomas visited Jennifer at her home a few days before Christmas to deliver the gifts.
In two years, the F&A Holiday Outreach Initiative has helped 18 families and four senior citizens and raised a total of $18,400.
For Simmons, helping community members goes beyond the numbers. “These are our neighbors, literally within walking distance,” he said. “We have the ability to show local parents and children that we’re here for them and that UGA is genuinely accessible.”
The F&A Community Holiday Outreach Initiative is hosted in partnership with the Athens Housing Authority.
Click here to see more photos from the 2022 event.
*Names have been shortened to protect privacy.
