More Than a Holiday Gift Card: A New Path to Year-Round Stability

This holiday season, Mountain Resource Center introduced a new approach to supporting our neighbors—one designed not only to help families through the holidays, but also to strengthen their stability long after the season ends. For many years, MRC has provided gift cards in November and December to help individuals and families stay secure and celebrate in ways that feel meaningful to them. While this program has long been appreciated, we also recognized that many who came to us for holiday support weren’t aware of the full range of services available through MRC and other local organizations.

To bridge that gap, we piloted a new process in 2025. . These conversations created space for neighbors to talk openly about their current challenges and goals and allowed our team to explore whether additional support might help meet those needs. Through this simple change, we were able to deepen relationships and open the door to a broader spectrum of resources that many families hadn’t known were available.

During these appointments, our staff provided warm, judgment-free connections to services across the organization and beyond. Clients learned about programs such as case management, emergency assistance, health and wellness classes, mental health resources, and our Food Share Market—many of which can provide support far beyond the holiday season. These referrals help families and individuals not only stabilize during moments of crisis, but also build longer-term paths toward security, resilience, and connection.

The impact of this pilot program has already been clear. We met with 158 clients through the holiday support process, and many of those individuals and families have since chosen to engage with additional services at MRC. Even for those who have not yet taken that next step, these conversations increased awareness of the supportive programs available to them should they need help in the future.

By shifting from a single-touch holiday assistance model to a relationship-centered approach, we were able to support our neighbors in a more meaningful and sustainable way. This year, holiday assistance didn’t end with a gift card. It became a doorway to ongoing connection, year-round stability, and the knowledge that MRC is here whenever families need us.