Dear Nazareth Housing Community,
This holiday season, we didn’t just help families address their immediate needs — we helped families feel seen, celebrated, and connected at our annual holiday parties. Because joy is not an extra perk. Joy is an essential component of long-term stability.
That joy matters now more than ever. A recent Poverty Tracker report highlights how rising living costs in New York City have forced low-income households, with families with children and communities of color especially affected, to make difficult tradeoffs. More than three in four (76%) New Yorkers reported cutting back on essentials like food, transportation, utilities, and savings as prices continue to rise.
Thanks to your continued support, Nazareth Housing can remain responsive to our clients’ evolving needs, meeting urgent challenges while also creating spaces where families can experience the simple, powerful joy of the season and reminding them that Nazareth Housing will still be there to support them throughout the entire year.
The Holiday Joy You Made Possible
More than celebrations, our holiday events offered families the chance to fully experience the joy of the season without added financial stress. For parents, it meant relief and a moment of togetherness. For children, it meant laughter, creativity, and memories they will carry long after the holidays.
Holiday Moments at Thorpe Family Residence
At Thorpe Family Residence, 11 mothers and 23 children gathered for a joyful breakfast with Santa, an experience made possible by your generosity. The morning was filled with laughter as Santa handed out stockings with gifs, children decorated cookies, shaped clay snowmen, and colored festive holiday scenes.
“The smiles and joy of our clients warmed my heart,” reflected Yamel Cornelio, Recreation Coordinator at Thorpe.
A Winter Wonderland on the Lower East Side
At our Lower East Side office, 75 guests gathered for a joyful holiday celebration. The event included music, pizza, hot cocoa, and a cookie station, along with hands-on activities for children—from snowflake making to glitter-filled crafts and snowman kits.
Volunteers not only transformed the space into a winter wonderland but they also prepared and distributed thoughtfully packed gift bags—tailored for moms, dads, grandparents, teens, and younger children—along with 50 snack bags. These provided extra relief during an economically stressful time, helping families continue to meet essential needs like rent and healthy food.
“I love that we created a space for our clients to happily celebrate this holiday season,” shared Hannah George, Food Pantry Coordinator. “The snack bags ensured each child had healthy food for the weeks ahead.”
The Impact of Your Year-End Gift
As the year comes to a close, your generosity ensures families can count on Nazareth Housing for stability and moments of joy, even as the cost of living continues to rise. A year-end gift today will help sustain this vital work and carry the joy, relief, and hope of the season into the year ahead.
Thank you for giving hope and stability to families who need it most.
With gratitude,
Rachel Levine
Executive Director