Thrive Gift Gather Offers Youth, Adults, Holiday Presents

WARWICK, RI — On Wednesday, Dec. 15, Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. gave gifts to children and teens in its Youth & Family program and adult residential clients during its Winter Wonderland Walk-Through, part of its Making Spirits Bright Gift Gather campaign.

The annual Making Spirits Bright Gift Gather included adults who reside in the group homes of Thrive’s Residential Services program for the first time this year. Thrive’s Residential clients will receive the gifts during each home’s holiday party this week.

“It does not matter how old you are, a gift can brighten the spirits of anyone during the holidays so we were pleased to be able to include our Residential clients in the Gift Gather this year.  Our group home staff and clients are like family to each other.  Being able to provide gifts to each of these residents makes for a more complete holiday celebration in each group home,” said Beverly Lachapelle, Program Manager of Residential Services.

Gifts and monetary pledges were donated by Thrive’s staff as well as Greenwood Credit Union, Corner Office Financial, Charity Link, Inc., members of Thrive’s Board of Directors, and other members of the community through a Virtual Gift Gather.  Donors could sponsor a child or adult based on their age, gender and interests by visiting a link on Thrive’s Making Spirits Bright webpage.

Through the many generous donations, Thrive was able to deliver more than 200 gifts to 98 children in its Youth & Family program as well as to 46 adults in its Residential Services program.

The Winter Wonderland event was attended by 63 children from 36 families and consisted of carnival-style games, “Elf Training” with gross motor skill activities, a “Sweet Shop” for grab-n-go treats, Santa’s Workshop with craft activities, and a stop at the “North Pole” for a gift and picture with Santa.  Each family was given a specific time slot to participate in the Walk-through for social distancing purposes.

“We are continually amazed at the generosity of our staff and community which grows every year for this annual holiday celebration,” said Barbara Lamoureux, Thrive’s Vice President of Youth & Family Services.  “It has been another emotionally draining year for so many but with the overwhelming response to the Making Spirits Bright Gift Gather we are able to support so many families and adults in our programs. This year we were especially grateful to be able to host an in-person, socially-distanced Winter Wonderland Walk-through event and see the joy on the children’s faces as Santa presented them with a gift. We could not have done it without the donations of our many helpful elves in our staff and community.”

Anyone interested in making a donation to Thrive’s Making Spirits Bright fund may visit ThriveBHRI.org/donate.