For some people, including children, the holidays can be a time of anxiety without the luxury of being able to purchase gifts for loved ones.
Luckily, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul helps to ease that burden through its annual Christmas shopping day for the students of Palomino Elementary, a public school in an underprivileged community of Phoenix.
As a longstanding partner of SVdP, U-Haul sponsors the annual event at an SVdP thrift store.
The event gives kids the opportunity to buy items from the store for just $1 each (and if they are unable to do that, event organizers step in to handle the costs). Each student picks three or four items to gift to their family members with options ranging from toys and stuffed animals for siblings; to blankets and beauty items for mom; to tools and golf clubs for dad.
For several years, U-Haul Team Members have volunteered to be on site and assist hundreds of students in their shopping and gift-wrapping quest.
Magical Memories
Andrea Bielak, U-Haul Field Operations recruiter, had a unique volunteering role at the December event – one that involved a little bit of Christmas magic.
“I got to dress up as Mrs. Claus for the kids,” Bielak said. “An SVdP volunteer dressed up as Santa, and we both got to give hugs and take photos with everyone. Santa was the star of the show of course, but it was still so sweet to talk with the kids and see all the presents they wanted to show me. It warmed my heart.”
As someone who grew up in foster care, Bielak empathizes with kids who have extra struggles in life.
“Growing up, I was on the receiving end of charitable efforts like these,” Bielak confided. “There is no better feeling than being able to give back all the goodness that you once got from others. And, thanks to this Palomino Event and St. Vincent de Paul, kids and their families will have presents of their own to open on Christmas … some of them for the first time ever.
“U-Haul has done so much for me, and the opportunities that they give us to help others through these volunteering events are really beyond words. I’m grateful for everything that Team U-Haul does for the community, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Gift of Joy
Jessica Edwards, U-Haul Digital Marketing analyst and content strategist, helped guide the students as they selected Christmas gifts.
“I was part of a group of volunteers who accompanied one to three kids at a time as they shopped for their family members,” Edwards said. “Each kid had a list of family members that they were supposed to be shopping for, and we’d walk around the store to find items that they thought the family members would enjoy.
“One girl told me that her older brother really liked plain T-shirts, so when we found some plain black T-shirts that were his size and a nice quality, her face just lit up. It made me so happy to see her to feel the satisfaction and pride that comes from finding the perfect gift for a loved one.”
Spreading Cheer
Eva Franco, a U-Haul Corporate Sales account representative, encourages everyone to give volunteering a try – and not just during the holiday season.
“The best way to start is by giving one event a try, and then another, and then before you know it, you love to volunteer,” Franco said. “You just never know how much showing up at an event like this can change someone else’s life. Smiling, being kind to others, and volunteering in small ways may seem like small actions on our part. But they can be pivotal for somebody else.
“I’m proud to be part of a company that truly cares for the community and demonstrates this service and care year-round. Because of U-Haul, we were able to help bring holiday cheer to kids and put smiles on their faces. I would volunteer for this again in a heartbeat!”
Read more about U-Haul Company’s holiday service and event participation over the years by clicking here.
