Nonprofit Helps Homeless Buy Gifts For Family In Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH, VA—As many families splurge to buy gifts for their relatives this Christmas season, others are struggling to find a home let alone get gifts for their families. Thanks to one local program, some homeless families won't be without gifts under the Christmas tree.

Homestretch, a nonprofit helping homeless families and victims of domestic violence rebuild their lives, hosted a holiday shopping event for homeless children on Dec. 1. Children picked out gifts for each of their relatives at the Target on Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church.

During the annual event, volunteers help the children pick out gifts. It was followed by a holiday party, gift-wrapping and refreshments at the Falls Church Anglican Church.

Two companies stepped in to help with funding and running the event. Target provided a $2,000 grant and opened the store early in preparation for the event. Mayer Brown Law Firm offered a $2,500 grant and volunteers for the event. Additional funding came from Falls Church Episcopal.

"Homestretch is proud to be a shining example of how corporate support for surrounding communities greatly impacts the lives of the underserved in our Northern Virginia communities," said Homestretch Executive Director Christopher Fay in a statement. "Beyond meeting the basic needs of our clients, partnerships like this help enhance the quality of life for those we serve."

Homestretch serves around 50 families in need at a time. Since 1990, the nonprofit has helped over 2,000 Northern Virginia families attain permanent housing and become self-sufficient.

Image provided by Homestretch