I looked at the clock at 9:17 pm on December 25th and realized that something needed to change next Christmas. My kids, both toddlers at the time, had been asleep for hours while my husband and I finished unwrapping their Christmas presents for them. Thanks to a generous extended family, St. Nick and a few presents from us, our tree had been bursting with colorful packages. Our kids had spent all day unwrapping presents and simply had so many that by late afternoon they no longer cared about getting new toys.

The next fall, we looked into several of the wonderful organizations that help families during the holiday season and "adopted" a family through the Franklin County Social Services Department Holiday program. We decided that instead of buying presents for each other that we would buy presents, clothes and provide a Christmas dinner for a family who needed it.

I thought that I would get some resistance from the kids about getting a few less presents, but they really like helping pick out the presents and often volunteer to contribute their allowance money to the gifts. Laurel has always enjoyed picking out the outfits of clothing and Trevor’s job is finding the perfect candy canes for their stocking. And I have to say that on Christmas morning now, the kids are more appreciative of the gifts that they do receive from Santa and extended family. Neither one has ever commented that we have less presents under the tree.

One of the things that we have really enjoyed about the Franklin County Social Services program is that we get to meet and interact with the family. Because I get to talk with the mom before I go shopping, I know that the money that I am spending is exactly what the family needs, down to the fact that the two year old really wants Dora the Explorer shoes to the fact that her eight-year old daughter loves the color purple. When we deliver the presents to the family a few days before Christmas, my children often get to play with the kids while I unload the goodies.

Over the years, we’ve sponsored a woman who had recently left a domestic abuse shelter with her two year-old, a grandmother raising her granddaughter while the mom was in prison and a several single moms who had lost their jobs. These families have stayed in our minds and prayers throughout the year. I am positive that the joy that we feel from being able to make their holiday a little brighter lasts longer than anything that could be wrapped up in colored paper.

Franklin County Social Services is still looking for people to purchase presents for families in need. Many of the families live only a short drive from North Raleigh. If you would like to help please, call 919 496 5721 for more information.

Jennifer appears Mondays on TriangleMom2Mom.