Always giving back to others and expecting nothing in return, it has been years since this hard-working single mother of three boys in Newmarket has had a “proper” Christmas.
This year, thanks to the Random Acts of Christmas, she will be celebrating the holidays with some kindness to herself, with a day of pampering at Newmarket’s Sanctuary Spa and a gift basket of self-care products.
Her many selfless acts in the face of her own financial struggles had attracted attention, with three separate nominations made for this deserving mom.
And her three sons will experience some joy of their own this Christmas with each receiving $200 Amazon gift cards and toys.
This family is one of five in Newmarket, and among 12 in York Region, receiving surprise visits in the last two weeks from the York Region Police Association (YRPA), in partnership with Jewel 88.5FM, as part of the Random Acts of Christmas.
Families and individuals in need of a helping hand have received gifts and financial support for a brighter Christmas after being nominated by members of the community this November.
“Our uniformed and civilian members of York Regional Police Association wanted to do something special this holiday season and make a difference in the communities we serve,” said Todd Sepkowski, president of YRPA. “Random Acts of Christmas is our way of giving back to York Region, and helping to deliver some festive cheer this holiday season.”
They were overwhelmed by the amount of nominations received and the many stories of York Region families and individuals facing hard times or struggling to make ends meet, he added.
But with the help of YRPA uniformed and civilian members, and some local businesses, 12 families received Random Acts of Christmas.
Other Newmarket recipients included a struggling mother of a 12-year-old boy, who is living in non-profit housing after becoming homeless and living in a shelter following her husband’s death, who received a gift that included having her rent paid for eight months, a $250 food gift card and toys for her son.
A Newmarket single mother of two special needs children who struggles to pay the bills and provide the necessities of life, never mind afford extras at Christmas, was overjoyed to receive a $250 food gift card to help with Christmas dinner and more than $400 in toys to put under the Christmas tree this year.
A 10-year-old girl and her family have had a very difficult year after losing their mother who was tragically killed last year by an impaired driver on Highway 404 on her way home from work as a personal support worker.
“We surprised this young girl, her two siblings and father with $250 food gift card to help with Christmas dinner, $150 Walmart gift card to purchase Christmas gifts and over $400 in toys and gifts for the three children,” Sepkowski said.
Random Acts of Christmas also surprised a Newmarket single mother of a four-year-old autistic boy who has had a difficult year trying to make ends meet as she needs to stay home to care for her son, having been unable to find a daycare that will accept him.
“This past February, she was diagnosed with heart failure, which has made it difficult to care for her son and manage day-to-day activities like doing laundry and cleaning up the house,” Sepkowski said. “We surprised this mom with house cleaning for the entire year of 2020 and Christmas gifts for her son.”
“Perhaps even more so during the holiday season, the simplest of acts of kindness can have a positive effect to change someone’s life for the better,” he added. “We hope that we have helped to bring some Christmas cheer to York Region residents who needed it during this time of year.”
