Party with a purpose to help family in need

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on December 8th, 2009.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This month FUSION is getting into the holiday spirit and has partnered with the Saint John Christmas Exchange to adopt a FUSION family and will build a Christmas basket at this month’s Party with a Purpose.

The Saint John Christmas Exchange is a confidential central exchange service operated by community volunteers with the primary purpose of ensuring that no family in need goes without a Christmas dinner.

The group has been in operation for 30 years and works with approximately 60 churches in Greater Saint John to ensure that local families have food and gifts for the holidays by co-ordinating with the churches and service organizations to develop and maintain a registration list and link families in need to individuals, businesses and organizations to sponsor them, and make sure their holiday needs are met.

The office is open for five weeks each year; registration begins in November and applications are accepted until mid-December.

“We’re so excited to host this holiday Party with a Purpose,” says Kelly Lawson, chair of FUSION’s ambassador’s committee, which has planned the event. “The holidays can be a stressful time for some Saint John families who struggle to meet their daily needs. Supporting the Saint John Christmas Exchange is a fun and rewarding way to share the spirit of giving and a great opportunity for FUSION members to give back to the community – which is what this season is really all about.”

Opera Bistro is sponsoring the event.

FUSION has sponsored a family of four: a mother and her three children, ages two, six and nine. Donations, both cash and in-kind will be accepted at the party, and will be used to create a Christmas hamper that will include groceries, clothes and Christmas presents. “We’ve asking our guests to bring a gift or donation,” Lawson said. “Our family’s wish list is available on our website; guests may choose to donate money, purchase an item from the list, or use their discretion based on the demographics of the family to buy a gift of their own choosing – everything helps.”

“Partnering with FUSION for this event will ensure one family is looked after this Christmas,” says Saint John Christmas Exchange office co-ordinator Kathleen Morris. “Our hope is that it will also give us more profile in the community, and with people are not currently sponsors, but might be interested in helping a family in the future.”

The December Party with a Purpose will take place on Friday, Dec. 18 at Opera Bistro on Prince William Street.

All are welcome to attend and encouraged to bring a donation for the FUSION family. For more information, including a list of suggested donation items, please visit us online at www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan works with MT&L Public Relations Ltd. and is a member of the FUSION Saint John board. Her column appears on Tuesdays. She can be reached at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

Click here to view the Wishlist on FUSION’s website!