Goochland Christmas Mother Association

THE GOOCHLAND CHRISTMAS MOTHER INITIATIVE BEGAN IN 1963 AND HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SERVING THOSE IN NEED THROUGH AN ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN THAT CULMINATES ON DELIVERY DAY WHEN APPROVED RECIPIENTS RECEIVE THEIR PACKAGES. A COUNTY RESIDENT IS CHOSEN EACH YEAR TO SERVE AS THE GOOCHLAND CHRISTMAS MOTHER, THE PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHRISTMAS MOTHER ASSOCIATION. THE CHRISTMAS MOTHER LEADS THE FUND RAISING EFFORT AND RAISES THE VISIBILITY AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM DURING THE CAMPAIGN SEASON THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH. FOR HALF A CENTURY THE GOOCHLAND CHRISTMAS MOTHER EFFORT HAS MADE CHRISTMAS MEANINGFUL AND HAPPY FOR MANY COUNTY FAMILIES AND RECIPIENTS OF ALL AGES. EACH YEAR COUNTY RESIDENTS APPLY TO THE PROGRAM AND ARE QUALIFIED BASED ON RESIDENCY AND NEED. APPLICANT FAMILIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS. EACH APPROVED HOUSEHOLD ALSO RECEIVES A PACKAGE OF FOOD ITEMS AND HOUSEHOLD STAPLES AS WELL AS A GIFT CARD TO BUY PERISHABLE FOODS FROM A LOCAL GROCERY STORE AND A GIFT CARD FOR FAMILY PURCHASES AT A LOCAL RETAILER. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES THIS COMBINATION OF PURCHASED AND DONATED ITEMS TO EACH QUALIFIED RECIPIENT BASED ON FUNDS AVAILABLE EACH YEAR. IN 2023 GOOCHLAND CHRISTMAS MOTHER ASSISTED 217 FAMILIES IN NEED. MORE THAN 100 VOLUNTEERS DONATED THEIR TIME TO TAKING APPLICATIONS, DISTRIBUTION SITE SETUP, PICKUP/DELIVERY OF GIFTS TO RECIPIENTS, AND TO LEAD SPONSORSHIP EFFORTS THROUGH ADOPTION. THE GOOCHLAND CHRISTMAS MOTHER PROVIDES RESOURCES TO ENABLE QUALIFIED GOOCHLAND COUNTY RESIDENTS TO PURCHASE FOOD, CLOTHING, TOYS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. WE ASSIST FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, SENIORS AGE 60 AND OLDER AND THOSE WITH A DOCUMENTED DISABILITY.