Isaac Lewis Impact Story

Accommodations Counselor

I hope this message finds you all well. The air is getting crisper, the leaves are turning, and the joyous holiday season is upon us—a time when love, hope, and giving are at the forefront of our minds. It's the perfect time to share how the Love Gift Fund has impacted not only me but my family as well.

As someone who has been in education for 25 years and has served as an academic and college counselor for the last decade, I know first hand the importance of community support in educational settings. However, the Love Gift Fund adds an extra layer of communal generosity that truly embodies the Christmas spirit.

Last year, thanks to the Love Gift Fund, we were able to bring our oldest home for Christmas, and this year with your help we will do the same for all three kids who are spread across different schools and cities for their education. Flights during the holiday season can be exorbitantly expensive, and the bonus allowed us to cover those costs without having to stress over bills or other financial obligations. It was truly the gift of “presence” over “presents,” as we were all together to celebrate, eat good food, laugh, and most importantly, to share love.

This fund reflects the power of community and generosity, and we felt immensely blessed to be recipients of such kindness. You could have allocated your funds elsewhere, and yet you chose to invest in the joy and happiness of families like ours. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for that.

The Word says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Your cheerful giving has echoed throughout our lives and has given us an opportunity to gather together as a family in the most wonderful time of the year.

Thank you again for all you do for the VCS community and for embodying the spirit of giving through the Gift of Love Fund. Here's to many more years of community, love, and the true essence of Christmas.

Warmly and with immense gratitude,
Isaac Lewis

P.S. Health and well-being are vital to me, and stress is one less thing we need during the holidays. Thanks to your generosity, last year’s holiday season was a joyous and stress-free one, full of love and good health. God Bless.