Once again, it’s the most wonderful time of the year where we get to kick back, relax, and display our deepest affections to those closest to us through the gift of giving. However, for this group of young Miami locals, spreading the holiday joy goes beyond those within our inner circles.
Change from Within, a campaign geared towards supporting those less fortunate during the holidays, has returned for its third consecutive year.
The campaign began back during the 2015 Christmas season, where a local group of friends decided to collaborate in order to figure out the best way to give back to the community during the holidays. With the help of family and friends, the group was able to raise $500 within two weeks, which allowed them to create 35 care packages that included items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, hand sanitizer, chips and water.
The group was able to successfully distribute 35 beautifully wrapped packages and made their way to the streets of Downtown Miami on Christmas Eve.
Check out the 2015 Recap Video here.
After a successful season, the group decided to return in 2016 and was able to raise $1,500 that allowed them to produce 100 care packages, 100 blankets, 100 pillows and 250 sandwiches and drinks. Packages were also upgraded to include a t-shirt and socks.
Check out the 2016 Recap Video here.
This year, the group is expecting to fundraise even more than previous years in hopes of spreading the holiday spirit to many more who are in need. Salim David, one of the campaign’s organizers explains, “Our goal for the future remains to try to have more campaigns a year and not only for Christmas time. Since we are just starting up, we rely heavily on the support from our local community.”
The group has expanded their marketing and social media efforts with successful promo videos and an Instagram account in hopes of achieving record-breaking numbers.
Hats featuring the organization’s logo are being sold and a GoFundMe page is up and running to help spread awareness in hopes of collecting enough funds to produce as many care packages as possible.
With that being said, no donation is too small. If you would like to follow the #ChangeFromWithin journey, or contribute to donating, visit their Instagram page.
For any questions or inquiries about sponsorship, please feel free to contact Salim David at sdavi123@fiu.edu or (786)-287- 4559.