Letter

LETTER: Thank you Belleville Christmas angels!

TL;DR: Letter from a reader. Amidst rising costs and financial stress, a private sponsor from the Christmas Sharing program reaches out to provide a personalized food hamper and gifts. It is a powerful reminder of how local communities and private individuals are stepping up to support each other when times get tough.

Published

1 month ago

December 2, 2025

A.D. Greiner

LETTER: Thank you Belleville Christmas angels!

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This is the first submission to be received through the website and we’re so glad for it. The letter displays exactly the type of civic spirit that makes us proud to call the region home

Below is the letter in it’s entirety except for a preamble that was intended for the editor.

“I was sitting with a coworker during lunch break when her phone rang.

She answered and shortly began talking about grocery items for the holidays then went to finish the call in the locker room.

When she returned, assuming that was her husband on the phone who I also know personally, I asked after him and joked about letting him do the food shopping as she had previously chided him about his shopping habits.

She told me that the call was actually from a sponsor that had been assigned to her through the Christmas Sharing program in Belleville.

She explained that the sponsor would provide a hamper of food to help during the Holidays. And that the sponsor, she guessed was an older lady, had called to build a more personalized list of items for her family of four than the standard list that sponsors are provided by the agency.

I wasn’t aware that my friend was in that financial situation where she would seek out a program like that but I’m glad she did.

I felt a lot of emotions then, but mostly I’m thankful that my friend and her family will have plenty of food for Christmas dinner and the program will also provide gifts for her two children under ten, greatly easing the financial burden and stress that she must be feeling.

I want to send a big “Thank you!” to all those who opened their hearts and pocket-books to help local families that are struggling their way through the Holidays. You are so appreciated.

Helena”

Here is a link to the Christmas Sharing Program mentioned in the letter; https://www.christmassharing.org/

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