Each year, the dedicated staff at the DAC (presumably the [Name of DAC if available, e.g., “Downtown Activity Center”]) demonstrates their commitment to the local community through the heartwarming Christmas Cares program. This initiative focuses on providing support to local families facing economic hardship, ensuring children in the community experience the joy of Christmas. If you’re wondering about supporting or benefiting from this program, understanding when it operates is key.
How the DAC Christmas Cares Program Works
The DAC Christmas Cares program is ingeniously funded through the staff’s “Casual Fridays.” Every Friday, DAC staff members have the option to dress casually – wearing work-appropriate shirts with writing, hats, or even sweatpants – in exchange for a small contribution of $1 or more. These contributions, collected throughout the year, accumulate into a fund specifically dedicated to supporting children and families during the Christmas season. This collective effort showcases the DAC’s ongoing dedication to community welfare and embodies the spirit of giving back.
Nomination Details and Deadlines for Christmas Cares
In previous years, the DAC Christmas Cares program has generously provided comprehensive Christmas support to multiple families, sometimes as many as six. Recognizing the ever-increasing need within the community, the program has adjusted its approach to extend its reach further. To help more families and ensure a greater number of children have something special to open on Christmas morning, the program now focuses on providing one or two carefully chosen gifts per child.
For those aware of a child or family who could benefit from the DAC Christmas Cares program, the nomination process is a crucial step. The nomination window typically opens in late November or early December. It’s important to note that for the past year, the nomination deadline was Monday, December 9th at 8 am. While the nomination window is now closed for that specific year, it gives a clear indication of the timeframe to expect for future programs. To participate in the next DAC Christmas Cares initiative, keep an eye out for announcements around the same period – late November to early December – for the upcoming nomination period.
Notification and Gift Pickup for Chosen Families
Families selected to receive support through the DAC Christmas Cares program are notified promptly after the nomination window closes. In the past, notification calls were made on Monday, December 16th. This allowed chosen families sufficient time to prepare for the holidays.
Gift pickup is arranged conveniently at the DAC premises in the days leading up to Christmas. Typically, gifts are available for pickup between December 18th and 20th, from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. This timeframe, just before the holiday, ensures families receive their gifts in time for Christmas celebrations. It’s important to note that currently, gift delivery is not available, and families are requested to pick up their gifts from the DAC during the specified hours.
Program Status: Nomination Window Now Closed
Please be aware that the nomination window for the most recently concluded DAC Christmas Cares program has now closed. This information is based on the details from the original announcement, which indicated that the nomination window concluded on December 9th. While nominations are no longer being accepted for that cycle, the DAC’s commitment to the community remains steadfast.
The DAC Christmas Cares program stands as a testament to the power of community and collective generosity. By understanding when the program operates – typically with nomination deadlines in early December and gift pickups just before Christmas – individuals can be prepared to participate, either by nominating a deserving family or by supporting the DAC’s ongoing community initiatives in the future. Keep an eye on the DAC’s announcements around November each year to learn the specific dates for the next Christmas Cares program and how you can contribute to making a child’s Christmas brighter.
