There’s a special kind of magic that happens during the holidays—a sparkle that extends beyond twinkling lights and perfectly wrapped gifts. It’s a magic found in the quiet moments of giving, when we step outside of our lives to carry the weight of someone else’s burdens, if only for a moment. This magic is the heart of Hope for the Holidays.
Every year, we gather to shop for families who, despite all odds, are working tirelessly to rebuild their lives. They’ve faced homelessness, heartache, and hardships many of us can’t imagine, yet they press forward, striving for something better. At the Emergency Services Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County, parents in transitional housing programs dedicate themselves to job training, continuing education, and counseling—all in the name of stability and opportunity for their children.
And that’s where we step in.
We don’t know these families by name. We’ll never see their faces as they open their gifts on Christmas morning. But we know this: the simple act of choosing a coat in their favorite color or a toy that sparks joy in their child’s heart reminds them they are seen. They are loved. That even strangers believe in their future.
But Hope for the Holidays isn’t just about the families we serve—it’s about the ones doing the giving, too.
When we walk into Kohl’s on December 7th, with kids in tow and our best holiday cheer on display, we’re planting seeds. Seeds of compassion, generosity, and awareness. We are teaching our children—our homeschoolers who spend their days learning at our kitchen tables—that the world is bigger than their own backyard.
Homeschooling offers us something precious: the chance to shape not only what our children learn, but who they become. It’s about teaching them to read and write, yes, but it’s also about teaching them to feel. To walk beside others, shoulder to shoulder, and understand their struggles without judgment.
Shopping together for Hope for the Holidays is more than a service project. It’s a lesson that generosity doesn’t have to wait for someday. Even young hands can carry the load of giving, and young hearts can feel the joy of connection. It’s in the small decisions—picking out a toy for a little boy they’ve never met, staying within a budget because every family deserves a fair chance—that our children learn what it means to care.
It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday hustle. The long lists, the perfect recipes, the hustle to make everything just right for our own families. But when we stop and invite our kids into something bigger, something harder, something full of the kind of love that isn’t tied up with ribbons and bows—it changes them.
We’re raising adults, after all. What we teach them today will echo in the lives they build tomorrow. And wouldn’t we all love to send our children into the world with hearts that lead with empathy?
So, this year, I invite you to join us. Bring your kids. Wear your holiday best. Show them what it looks like to give with an open heart and an unshakeable belief that every family deserves to feel the magic of Christmas morning.
Because the truth is, when we give to others, we’re not just making their lives better. We’re shaping a generation of humans who will carry this magic into the world for years to come.
And that’s a gift worth giving.
Shopping Day Details
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Where: Kohl’s – 13760 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville, FL 32258
Time: 9:00–11:00 AM
What to Wear: Your best holiday cheer!
Who Can Attend: All ages welcome—especially kids!
Not able to join us? Consider making a donation to help us spread this holiday magic. Together, we can make a difference.
With hope and gratitude,
Radiant Collective Foundation
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