Courtesy of Augustine Ideas
SLIDESHOW: Preparing a special community Christmas
ROSEVILLE -- A Roseville advertising and public relations firm decided to do something special for its clients and the community this year.
Instead of giving their clients a bottle of wine or scented candle, they got a letter inside a treasure chest saying that their gift went to a child in need and included a child's letter to Santa.
Augustine Ideas, lead by CEO Debbie Augustine, went shopping and spent days wrapping hundreds of gifts for nearly 40 children who had written letters through the USPS "Letters to Santa" program. Each family member got the gifts on their list, new clothes and one little girl will have her first bike under the tree on Christmas Day.
After ensuring that kids had gifts under the tree Augustine Ideas also wanted to make sure that other families had a few tasty and healthy meals to enjoy during the holidays.
On Tuesday, the entire staff helped cook and prepare meals for 25 local families. Each family will receive lasagna with dinner rolls and a Caesar Salad with homemade croutons, along with Chicken Kiev, rice pilaf and fresh cookies. The meals will be delivered by staff to families helped by the Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento Chapter.
"We wanted to help during this time of need," said Debbie Augustine, CEO of Augustine Ideas. "This was an opportunity for our entire staff to come together, help the community and bring smiles to children's faces throughout the Sacramento area. My goal is to sustain a culture where my employees are encouraged to reach out and make a difference where they live."
This is the third year that Augustine Ideas has provided gifts to children through the "Letters to Santa" program and the first year that they have cooked for families in need.
Augustine plans to continue this tradition of giving in the future and encourages other CEOs and local businesses to make a difference by participating in similar programs around the holidays and throughout the year.
News10/KXTV