As you may know, each year at Cool Yule I ask for donations to the Montgomery County Department of Youth and Health and Human Services, a cause so near and dear to my heart. Each and every year I am blown away and humbled by the generosity of my clients and the amount of their donations. This year was no different. I was able to drop off a truck load items, along with cash donations from both the studio and my family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity!!!

This email and thank you came in from Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services,  and I am just beyond grateful for the difference you have made for the third year in a row!  The gratitude I feel from these people is palpable.  The hard work they do to make a difference for people in our community is remarkable.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for another successful year of easing the burden of the hard work they put in day in and day out!

“On behalf of the children and families served by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, thank you for your donation to during our Winter/Holiday Drives.

I am pleased to report that the Thanksgiving, Coat Room, and Holiday Gift and Gift Card Drives were able to assist 2,949 county residents during the Holiday season!

• 354 Thanksgiving Meal boxes were distributed, along with $7000 in gift cards to grocery stores; extra food donations were boxed up and used during the season to assist food insecure families;
• Over 800 winter coats, clothing, hats and gloves, blankets, and toiletries were distributed, and will continue to be distributed throughout the winter months;
• Thousands of toys and gifts were distributed; 277 children were adopted for Christmas and received wonderful gifts; over $24,000 in gift cards was distributed; almost 300 items were received via our Amazon Wishlist.

From needed items like coats, to festive meals, to visits from Santa to bring joy to a child’s heart, your donation made these miracles happen for almost 3,000 of our County neighbors, and for that we are forever grateful.  Your continued support of our HHS Drives is sincerely appreciated; the donations by the Silver Orchid family through your Cool Yule event are always so numerous, and wonderful!  We so appreciate being the chosen recipient of your efforts to help those in need each holiday season.

Thank you again, and I wish you a happy and healthy 2022!

With Gratitude,

Veronica Hilghman, Adm. Asst.”