Firefighter Beth Ganz said that one of the reasons she helps sponsor a family for the Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund is she sees that the program making a real difference for children.

“You walk into an apartment and there’s no furniture, maybe a mattress on the floor, and a table and no tree,” said Ganz who organizes Mount Vernon Fire Department’s sponsorship of five families. “You see where they are living and see five kids sleeping on the floor. If it weren’t for us, they wouldn’t have a Christmas.”

Burlington firefighters who sponsor one family have had similar experiences, said Julee Bradshaw, Burlington fire prevention specialist. The two agencies are playing Santa this year for a total of six families.

“If it weren’t for us, they wouldn’t have a holiday meal,” said Bradshaw who has organized her agency’s efforts for the past 13 years.

The family sponsorship is in addition to this upcoming weekend’s firefighter toy drive to benefit the Christmas Fund.

In 2008, 66 Christmas Fund sponsors helped 149 families, said Lynn Postler, fund administrator. Most of the sponsors are individuals or families that sponsor one family. Several organizations, such as fire departments, businesses and churches sponsor more than one family.

This year, 49 sponsors have signed up for 109 families, but Postler would like to find another 25 sponsors by Friday. Dec. 4.

Sponsoring a family of four is a financial commitment of about $250, Postler said.

The Christmas Fund matches sponsors with families. For instance, a sponsor could request a one-child family or a family with many children.

“There are lots of options,” Postler said.

Everyone who registers for the Christmas Fund is eligible for sponsorship. Families are selected at random and once sponsored, family must wait three years before it can be sponsored again.

“We usually try to match up the poorer families first,” Postler said.

Once a sponsor is assigned a family, he or she or the organization calls the family and asks what the children need in terms of clothing or shoes and toys, Postler said. The sponsor then goes shopping for the gifts and groceries.

“I go to the grocery store and fill up bags, with the things they will need for holiday dinner,” said Postler, who has sponsored a family for the past five years. She also buys staples, such as eggs, milk.

The last step is dropping off the gifts, which Postler and other sponsors say is the best part.

Sedro-Woolley single-mother Nina McGinley and her two boys were sponsored last year after she was laid off. She said the family that sponsored hers wanted to give back because they had been in a similar situation once and were helped by a local church.

“It was really heart warming and heartfelt for my boys. It’s wonderful, wonderful program,” said McGinley who was laid off. “They actually gave up their Christmas to give Christmas to us.”

The firefighters and other sponsors will deliver gifts about a week before Christmas. Mount Vernon firefighters use one of department’s rigs, and a few wear Santa hats, Ganz said.

Bradshaw said that she and the Burlington firefighters take pleasure from knowing they helped someone have a Christmas.

“The most important part is: It’s for the kids,” Bradshaw said.

Ganz agreed.

“It’s very rewarding,” she said. “It takes the emphasis off us and puts it on what Christmas should be about.”

How to sponsor a family
The Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund asks that individuals, families, businesses, churches and other organizations interested in sponsoring one or more families call 360-419-7263 by Friday, Dec. 4.
The fund will match the sponsor with an appropriate-sized family or families, depending on the amount the sponsor can give. The sponsor contacts the family to find out what is needed, then goes shopping or collects donations and delivers the gifts before Christmas.