December 2021 featured holiday festivities as it does every year, making December one of our most fun months. This year, we also partnered with the Human Rights Coalition of Alachua County to provide Community IDs. We were also very grateful for the holiday generosity of some of our fellow community members. Read on to learn more!
The Human Rights Coalition of Alachua County provided over 20 new Community IDs
The SWAG Family Resource Center partnered with the Human Rights Coalition of Alachua County (HRC) for a Community ID drive on December 11. The HRC’s Community ID card program provides IDs to folks who may face barriers to obtaining a state-issued ID. By working with local agencies, the HRC thus offers a way for community members to access important local resources. Many thanks to HRC staff as well as the SWAG Resource Center Manager Shandra Nichols for making this event happen.
The December 2021 holiday events featured fun with crafts and gingerbread houses
Thank you so much to everyone who made our holiday festivities a blast again this year! It was “all hands on deck” with volunteers, board members, community partners, and of course the ever-incredible Partnership for Strong Families staff at the SWAG Family Resource Center. We had visits with Santa played by Mr. Clarence Collins, gifts, holiday crafts, gingerbread houses, and a delicious meal cooked by longtime volunteer Jane Doig. And last but certainly not least, thank you to all the families and community members who came out to celebrate with us! You’re what makes our holidays bright every year.
The season of giving brought generosity from community members
We want to extend an enormous thank-you to our friends at Grace Church, who made SWAG the recipient of their Christmas Eve offering.
We were also very grateful to the Hogue family for sharing their joy with our SWAG families. They went grocery shopping and provided full holiday dinners for ten of our families. In addition, they filled the freezer in our emergency food pantry to bursting.
And finally, SWAG was very excited to receive a donation of two boxes of books to distribute during our holiday celebration. This donation came from award-winning novelist and Gainesville resident Shelley Fraser Mickle. Shelley authored the book alongside acclaimed artist Woodrow Nash. The book, titled Woodrow Nash: How I Search for My Ancestors, is filled with beautiful illustrations and brief histories celebrating African heritage.
