In a heartwarming tradition, this December Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC) Sanctuary and Support Services hosted their 30th annual “Making Spirits Bright” event, bringing holiday joy to over two dozen families in Fresno. A festive caravan, loaded with trees, gifts, personalized stockings, gift cards, and goodies, made a special delivery to 25 deserving families in the community.
Since it began, “Making Spirits Bright” has touched the lives of over 3,000 children. Fresno EOC embraced this initiative 25 years ago, and since 1994, it has reached 845 families, making it a beacon of hope during the holiday season.
This year, Fresno EOC collaborated with a local low-income neighborhood school to identify 25 families in need of some extra holiday cheer.
Misty Gattie-Blanco, Director of Sanctuary and Support Services at Fresno EOC, emphasized the importance of the event in light of financial challenges faced by many families in the community. “If families must allocate funds to basic needs, we want to relieve that burden and infuse their homes with holiday joy through these thoughtful gifts and donations,” she said.
The success of “Making Spirits Bright” is made possible through generous contributions from partners such as PG&E, Target, Costco, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Asia Supermarkets, individual donors, and cash donations from the community. The collaborative effort underscores the spirit of giving that unites Fresno in bringing warmth and happiness to those who need it most during the holiday season. Keep scrolling to see more photos!
