When children are in crisis, the simple act of receiving a Christmas gift can mean the world to them.
This year InterAct of Wake County hopes to give gifts to 600 women and children touched by domestic violence. So far, their donations are falling short.
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Imagine you're a domestic violence victim. You leave your house with your children with nothing but the clothes on your back. The last thing you're thinking about is Christmas gifts.
"We're talking about families who have literally walked out of their lives," said Allison Strickland, development director of InterAct. "They've chosen safety over security."
InterAct supports survivors of domestic violence and their families. Every year, mothers get to choose Christmas gifts for their children from tables of donated toys.
"Normally, this time of year we would see the table overflowing," Strickland said.
This year, donations have not kept up with the need.
"We are really lacking on Legos this year, in particular," Strickland said.
Strickland said she recalls the impact the group's help and the gifts had on one client who had recently left her abuser.
"She said, 'If I'd known this type of support would be here for me, I would have left 13 years ago,'" Strickland said.
"They are still full of the wonder, but there is a lot of transition in their lives," said Laura Tanzini, a children's case manager. "There's also a lot of stress, and the holidays bring more stress."
Tanzini works directly with the children and their parents.
"For us to be able to offer to a mom to go shopping for your child, even though you might not have money for food right now, and to be able to give them the things you know they love," Tanzini said.
"For these families, we want to make sure they don't go without, that they get to experience all of the joy of the holiday season," Strickland said.
Because of the great need this year, InterAct officials said they don't even have one toy per child. They're hoping in the next 48 hours they can get more donations. The toys will be distributed to the families on Saturday. Children will also be able to pick out a special gift for their mothers.
InterAct will be accepting toy donations at their Oberlin Road office all day Thursday and Friday. They said their greatest needs are for children ages 6 to 10 and teenagers.
Additional information and a gift suggestion guide can be found by clicking on the organization's website.