Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
Two regional Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) are gearing up to provide assistance to families in need this Christmas, and they are asking people to reach out in advance if they require help.
Nampa/Northern Sunrise County FCSS is hosting the annual Christmas Gift Card Program – a program designed to help those in need of assistance through the financially heavy time of year.
“The Christmas Gift Card Program provides families and individuals in need with financial support during the holidays,” says director Amber Houle.
“With the rising cost of food and utilities, more and more families and individuals are feeling the pinch. The Christmas Gift Card programs allow individuals and families to receive extra cash in their hands so that they can have a special holiday without the burden of going into or adding to their debt loads.”
The program is anonymous, with gift cards being sent in the mail via a Christmas Card. Their FCSS branch is currently accepting both donated gift cards and cash to help provide families the opportunity to purchase some extra food and items. Donations will be accepted until the second Friday of December.
Houle says if you or someone you know needs a little extra help this holiday season, or you would like to help make Christmas brighter for people in the region, please contact her at (780) 625-3287 or ahoule@northern sunrise.net. You can also nominate someone who needs assistance by visiting the Northern Sunrise County website.
Smoky River FCSS is hosting its Christmas Voucher Program at the same time. Director Crystal Tremblay says the program also was created to help families struggling financially at Christmas.
“We provide each qualified applicant with a voucher to purchase food at either Falher Foods or Co-op, as well as toys for children aged 16 and younger,” she says.
“Each voucher amount is based on the size of the family,” she adds.
Tremblay says applications for the program started on Nov. 1 and will run until Dec. 8 at 4:30 p.m., with no late applications being accepted. In 2023, the program aided 134 individuals in the Smoky River Region. This was a total cost of $8,350.
If you’d like to donate to the Christmas Voucher Program or would like more information on how to apply, please phone Tremblay at (780) 837-2220.