Your contributions to our annual Gifts of Joy holiday gift drive mean more than you can imagine.

Not only did you donate over 1,650 gifts and gift cards and nearly $14,000 in cash, you brought smiles to the faces of children living with violence and trauma allowing them to have a special holiday, just like other kids their age. Your kindness is much appreciated by our adult consumers as well, many of whom are struggling financially and often receive no gifts at all at the holidays. Your generosity and compassion helped us meet an increased need – almost 100% increase over last year.

It is exciting and inspirational to see the generous spirits among our many supporters and our dedicated and talented staff members at MHCD who gave to help provide gifts or gift cards and keep the promise of hope alive this holiday season. We appreciate your greatness.

Donations of cash and gift cards came from more 56 individuals and staff members and area 14 businesses

• The grandson of a board member brought in his piggy bank with several hundred dollars.
• The daughter of a staff member and her friend donated the proceeds from their summer lemonade stand.
• Staff members donated gift cards received by turning in their Way to Go employee recognition certificates.
• The mother, brother, and sister of one staff member gave money and gift cards.
• The daughter of a staff member “tithed” her vacation pay-out and gave it to Gifts of Joy.
• Members of the board of directors donated money and gift cards.
• Staff members emptied their piggy banks into “coin buckets” at each MHCD site
  

Thank you to all who gave so abundantly. Your generosity keeps hope alive for the children, families and adults served by the Mental Health Center of Denver. Happy Holidays.

Holiday Stress Busters

Ask yourself, “Are you running your holiday celebration or is your holiday celebration running you? “  You do not have to incorporate every single family tradition that has been handed down in your family for generations.  This may be the year to simplify! Here are some tips:

• Enlist the help of family and friends to lighten your to-do list.  Help them out, too!  You will all be less stressed and feeling more of the loving spirit of the holiday season.
• Do the fun things first.  With the right approach, almost every holiday preparation can be fun - anxiety is the part that is not fun!  And fun has been known to reduce anxiety.
• Make agreements with some of the people on your gift giving list to mutually reduce your expectations.  You might be surprised at how grateful they might be.
• Plan some silly activities. Take an adult's picture taken with Santa. Put reindeer ears on your dog or yourself. Decorate your car. Sing holiday songs. Being a little silly during hectic times is a great way to lighten up.
• Write a letter of gratitude to people you love.  You could put it on nice paper, roll it up and tie it with a ribbon, or put it in a holiday envelope.  This is the kind of gift that will be kept and remembered for years to come.