The first 1,000 days in a child’s life are vital to their development.

“This is when parents can shape who their children will be and the decisions they will make for a lifetime,” said Kelsey Chrisman, a nurse home visitor with Panhandle Health.

But when an unexpected crisis or hardship occurs, parents may need help providing the best possible life for their child and themselves.

Panhandle Health’s Nurse-Family Partnership and Parents as Teachers programs provide critical support for families through home visits and connections to community resources.

Sometimes, that resource is Press Christmas for All.

Chrisman said many families in Kootenai County want to work more hours to increase their income, but in doing so face the risk of losing health insurance coverage, SNAP benefits or childcare assistance, all of which have a negative impact.

“Christmas For All has often been the 'step up' that families need when an unexpected crisis occurs, or they are in a transition phase of starting a new job, taking time off postpartum without paid leave or parenting alone,” she added.

Clients often receive food cards from Super 1 Foods, gas cards from Maverik and, in one case, new appliances through Home Depot.

“It is amazing to see the generosity that comes to families who often have really hard stories and who have not been shown a lot of grace throughout their lives,” Chrisman said. “Through our trauma-informed lens, we know that it can take years, or generations of changes to create a lasting impact. Every one of the families that we work with is striving to build a better world for themselves and their children.”

She added that, with support from programs like Press Christmas for All, the Nurse-Family Partnership and the Parents as Teachers program can foster a stronger support network for families.

“It really has been inspiring to see the work that our community does, oftentimes behind the scenes, to support young families to be the best parents they can be,” Chrisman said.

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This is one in a series of stories about Press Christmas for All referring partners who work with underserved populations every day. They build relationships and target needs so every Christmas for All dollar donated elevates community members with compassion and dignity.