The holidays are on the horizon, and this time of the year taps into everyone’s generosity. One organization you may consider for your giving list is H.E.R.O. For Children Inc. H.E.R.O. stands for Hearts Everywhere Reaching Out for Children. This organization is a nonprofit that improves the quality of life for children with HIV. Currently, their Holiday of HEROs program is underway. This is a donation drive for children who are HIV positive, where they are provided with one gift that they need and one gift that they want. It lasts until December 5, and no item is too big or small to donate to this program.
“When you think about Christmas, most kids ask for toys and games. I honestly see more requests for basic needs like a bed, bed sheets, hygiene products, and clothes. These are the things a lot of our children and families are requesting. Christmas for them is more than just the fun; it’s an opportunity for them to get what they really need for their everyday living,” said Nadia Eliacin, Matching Development Coordinator for H.E.R.O. for Children.
The Holiday of HEROs donation drive runs until December 5. People can donate items to H.E.R.O. for Children Inc.’s office in Roswell, GA, or make monetary donations on the nonprofit’s website. Online, there is a list of the most requested items. Electronics, bath products, baby items, and gift cards are the items in most demand. There is even an option to sponsor a child. Donors who commit to sponsoring a child will receive an ID number that includes the child’s age and gender, along with a list of the child’s specific requests. Donors can purchase the items and drop them off at the office, or schedule a pickup with H.E.R.O. for Children Inc.
The impact of this donation drive on children and parents is immeasurable. Eliacin explains that families who participate in this program have a lifted spirit because of the relief this provides. She further elaborates that parents who are in this program are burdened by high medical costs for their HIV positive child. According to Ellacin, doctor visits and medications for HIV can cost families around $10,000. With the current political climate affecting medical insurance, circumstances do not appear to be improving in the future. The Holiday of HEROs program is delivering aid parents need this season.
“I had one parent when I first started working at the organization. She took a train and a bus, then walked about two miles to our office to pick up gifts for her children. I felt so bad for her that I gave her a ride back to the train station. As we were driving, she told me she would have walked even further because this is all we’re going to have under the tree,” said Ellacin.
H.E.R.O. For Children Inc. was founded by Ryan Gembala and Garrett Gravesen in 2003. What inspired the duo to do the Holiday of Heroes program was a moment in 2004, when they visited a family’s home for the holidays. They saw wrapped boxes under the tree, but they were empty. The parents just wrapped empty boxes to give the kids the experience of having gifts under the tree.
“Donations help a lot. Every parent cannot provide for their children with the times that are going on right now,” said Santresia Coggins, a parent participant in the Holiday of HEROs program.
“When you put up a Christmas tree, and you don’t know where anything is coming from. You start praying to God that your kids get at least something. The program gave my kids toys. You should see how their eyes light up when they get what they want on their list,” said Coggins.
The founders were convinced to help as many kids as possible from that moment on. Since then, they have been sharing gifts with hundreds of children. 2025 is set to be their record-breaking year as the organization is on track to donate gifts to 430 children. The Holiday of HEROs program is an opportunity for Georgia locals to bring cheer to families battling an incurable illness. Eliacin and the team at H.E.R.O. For Children Inc., consider the uplifting impact these daily items have on people. The organization wants to make the most significant possible impact on the group it serves.
“I learned through this program that it’s the small things that matter. I pray that H.E.R.O. for Children lasts a long time, as it impacts many families. With what’s going on in the world, they put a lot of smiles on parents’ faces and give them relief that there’s help for their children,” said Coggins.