The Spirit of Giving

By Marisa Geitner

The holiday season is upon us, as is the end of another fruitful year for Heritage Christian Services. As the spirit of giving envelops us, I feel inspired by how community supporters and donors have supported the agency and its mission in 2023, and how much we have been able to give to the people we support in return. There is much joy in the cycle of giving.

I think of the many people who contributed to our agency as part of Giving Tuesday and ROC the Day. Many of our programs, from the Pieters Family Life Center to Heritage Christian Stables, have benefitted from the generosity of the surrounding community over the years, and it is thrilling to see so many people benefit from these programs in turn.

I think of the generosity of Pat Larrabee and her sons Adam and Brendan. The Larrabee Family Matching Challenge is helping us on our way to our $9.1 million fundraising goal for our Homes with Heart capital campaign. With their family’s help and the support of our community partners and donors, we are ensuring multi- generational support for the people we support, an endeavor that will impact over 400 people over the next 60 years.

I think of all that our staff gives to the people who choose our services on a daily basis, making a difference in their lives. Without their compassionate support, the level of care we offer would not be possible.

As we prepare to enter our 40^th year as an agency, there’s so much to be thankful for. On behalf of everyone at Heritage Christian Services, we hope your holidays are  filled with the same joy the community has given to us.