With the holidays almost here, ILYA’s annual Holiday Giving initiative is off and running. This important project supports young adults up to age 23 who have aged out of the State’s foster care system with tangible, thoughtful items, as many do not have the social supports or financial resources from a family like their peers do during the holiday season.
As you know, ILYA has partnered with the congregations at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek and Unitarian Universalists of Central Delaware, which means that the Holiday Project also benefits young adults in Kent County. Last year, we were so appreciative that many of you rose to the challenge of supporting a record number of 112 young adults aging out of foster care and 16 of their children in both New Castle and Kent Counties. We hope that our members will contribute again this year – and many of you already have!
Come visit us at the ILYA table after church in the Parish Hall on Sunday, November 13th or 20th to learn more or to bring your donations. We are accepting financial gifts, 2023 calendars, boxes of winter-themed holiday cards (no religious themes) for young adults as well as new children’s books for newborns through age seven.
Members can also purchase specific gifts of lunch boxes on Amazon, with First U benefitting from Amazon Smile dollars as a result. An Amazon Gift Registry has been established for the ILYA Holiday Giving Project. For those familiar with ordering on Amazon, click here to access the registry. Be sure to choose Martha Gessler’s Gift Registry for the delivery address and not your own!
For those who need assistance, printed instructions on how to set up an Amazon account and how to order on the Amazon Smile Registry will be available at the ILYA table. Please note, the deadline for placing Amazon orders is December 1st.
Calling volunteer wrappers! You’re invited to join us at the Gift Wrapping Party on December 8th at 10 a.m. at the home of Martha Gessler (600 Halstead Road). An easy and fun way to get involved! Please let us know if you plan to attend.
Contact the ILYA Holiday Giving Project Coordinators with questions: Carolyn Gibson (cgibson@upenn.edu or 610-388-0405) and Martha Gessler (marthagessler@gmail.com or 302-427-9037).
From all of us at ILYA, many thanks for your generosity and support during the winter holidays and all throughout the year. We look forward to seeing you at the ILYA table on Sunday!