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Hope For The Holidays

Creating opportunities for hope, connection, encouragement, and remembrance during meaningful holidays and observances throughout the year.

Hope for the Holidays is a Hope Valley initiative designed to help qualifying individuals and families experience hope, connection, encouragement, and meaningful holiday traditions during holidays and observances throughout the year.

We recognize that holidays can be especially meaningful—but they can also be particularly difficult for caregivers, military families, individuals and families navigating grief and loss, and those facing unique life challenges. Through community support, charitable giving, and mission-driven outreach, Hope Valley seeks to help create meaningful holiday experiences that remind people they are seen, valued, and supported.

Inspired by Hope Valley’s commitment to Helping Others through Personal Experiences, Hope for the Holidays focuses on creating opportunities for joy, encouragement, remembrance, and connection during holidays and observances that hold special meaning.

Hope for the Holidays

Who May Qualify?

Priority consideration may be given to:

Caregivers

Individuals who provide ongoing care, support, advocacy, supervision, or assistance to a child, spouse, family member, or loved one experiencing disabilities, learning differences, chronic illness, aging-related needs, or other circumstances requiring significant caregiving responsibilities.

Heroes for Hope Referrals

Individuals or families nominated by a first responder who has identified a meaningful opportunity to provide encouragement, support, or hope during a holiday or observance.

Grief & Loss Families

Individuals and families navigating the sudden, unexpected, traumatic, or tragic death of an immediate family member or loved one.

Military Families

Individuals and families experiencing the deployment of a spouse, parent, or primary caregiver serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Examples of opportunities that may be considered include:

Holiday Experiences
  • Admission to holiday attractions, seasonal events, performances, and community celebrations
  • Participation in seasonal activities such as light displays, pumpkin patches, holiday workshops, cookie decorating, or similar experiences
  • Family gatherings and holiday experiences that foster connection and create meaningful memories
  • Holiday décor, seasonal items, and supplies that help create a meaningful celebration at home
  • Spa services, wellness experiences, restorative activities, or self-care opportunities for caregivers during holidays and observances
  • Holiday-related activities, experiences, care packages, or meaningful items that support military families during periods of deployment or service-related separation
  • Memorial activities, tribute experiences, remembrance items, or commemorative opportunities that honor the life and legacy of a loved one
  • Holiday-related experiences, activities, or items that help families remember and celebrate someone they have lost
  • Acts of remembrance connected to military service, first responder service, or significant family loss

Who Can Submit a Nomination?

Nominations may be submitted by caregivers, family members, educators, healthcare professionals, first responders, community leaders, faith leaders, friends, colleagues, or individuals seeking support for themselves.

Self-nominations are welcome; however, additional information, references, or supporting documentation may be requested during the review process.

All nominations should clearly describe the individual or family being nominated, the holiday or observance involved, the requested opportunity, and the anticipated impact the opportunity would have on the individual or family.

Program Guidelines​

Hope for the Holidays is designed to create meaningful opportunities for connection, encouragement, remembrance, and celebration during holidays and observances throughout the year.

At this time, priority consideration is given to individuals and families residing in Licking County, Ohio. While Hope Valley may occasionally partner with organizations serving the broader region, this program is intended to primarily support residents of Licking County and does not generally extend beyond Central Ohio.

Priority may be given to referrals that:

  • Align with one of the qualifying categories outlined above
  • Demonstrate a meaningful opportunity to inspire hope during a holiday or observance
  • Represent a one-time holiday-related experience, activity, item, or opportunity
  • Create opportunities for connection, encouragement, remembrance, or celebration
  • May not otherwise be accessible due to personal circumstances or financial limitations

The following are generally not eligible for consideration:

  • Ongoing financial assistance
  • Rent, mortgage, utility, or recurring household expenses
  • Debt repayment
  • Cash assistance requests
  • Medical bills or insurance premiums
  • Requests unrelated to a holiday or observance
  • Requests that create recurring financial obligations for Hope Valley
  • Requests originating outside Hope Valley's service area

Review Process

Submission of a nomination does not guarantee approval or funding.

All nominations are reviewed individually based on mission alignment, demonstrated impact, available resources, and the opportunity to inspire hope within our community.

Additional information, documentation, references, or verification may be requested during the review process. Hope Valley reserves the right to approve, deny, modify, defer, or refer any request at its sole discretion.

Sharing Hope Through Story

At Hope Valley, we believe that stories have the power to inspire hope, encourage others, and create meaningful community impact.

Because many Hope Valley initiatives are supported through community partnerships, volunteer involvement, charitable giving, and community fundraising efforts, applicants should understand that approved nominations may involve opportunities to share portions of their story with supporters, donors, volunteers, or the broader community.

Hope Valley may share stories, testimonials, photos, videos, updates, and outcomes related to approved nominations through its website, social media platforms, marketing materials, fundraising campaigns, events, and other mission-related communications.

We believe that every story has the potential to create hope for someone else, and that sharing our experiences can strengthen, encourage, and uplift our community.

Experience Hope

Finding hope through shared experiences.

Experience Hope is a monthly gathering for bereaved mothers who have experienced the loss of a child.

Grief can often feel isolating, but healing is strengthened when we realize we are not walking the journey alone. Experience Hope provides a welcoming and compassionate environment where mothers can share their stories, encourage one another, and find comfort among others who truly understand the unique journey of child loss.

Each gathering offers meaningful opportunities for conversation, connection, reflection, encouragement, and hope while honoring every mother’s individual grief journey. Whether your loss is recent or many years ago, you are welcome here.

Experience Hope is more than a monthly gathering—it is a circle of mothers who understand one another in a way few others can. Together, they share ideas, celebrate meaningful moments, honor the lives of their children, and continually look for ways to encourage and support one another, as well as other bereaved mothers who may be beginning their own grief journey.

Hope Valley is honored to walk alongside these remarkable women by helping support the group’s evolving needs, providing resources when possible, and encouraging opportunities that strengthen the connections, outreach, and acts of kindness they create together.

Experience Hope meets on the third Tuesday of each month at a community location within Licking County. Meeting locations may vary, so we encourage you to reach out for current meeting details.

Because even in the deepest sorrow, hope can still be found through community, compassion, and the shared experiences of others.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. – Hebrews 6:19