2019: Learning to Lean on Others

As most of you may know, Hope for the Holidays started off as a way to pay unexpected medical bills after getting sick and losing the ability to work a 9-5 job. This year was full of challenges, but also full of lessons about community, resilience, and what it means to lean on others when you can’t do it all on your own.

In November 2018, I found myself in the hospital for six months, battling an illness that would change my life in ways I could never have imagined. My job, my routine, my security—they were all taken away in a matter of months. But even in the darkest of times, I knew one thing for sure: I wanted to find a way to give back, even if I didn’t have much to give.

The idea of Hope for the Holidays was born out of this desire. Partnering with Singh’s Roti Shop, I created Boozy Baskets, a holiday fundraiser basket

filled with fun and festive goodies, all with the goal of raising money for my medical expenses.

The response was amazing. I was blown away by the generosity of the community, and in just a few weeks, we raised over $3,000.

This money went directly toward my medical bills, helping ease the financial strain of a long hospital stay.

But more than the dollars, the real gift was the support I received from all of you—the donors, the friends, the strangers who cared enough to help.

What started as a small effort quickly turned into a reminder of the power of community and kindness. It was a year of learning to accept help and to be grateful for the people who showed up for me, even when I couldn’t show up for myself.