Hope For The Holidays

The holiday season is a time of reflection, connection, and celebration, and at Hope For The Warriors, our team has a rich tapestry of traditions that make this time of year special.

Here are a few cherished ways we celebrate the season that we wanted to share with you! 

Baking Cookies for Santa 

Our HOPE family LOVES spending time in the kitchen, whipping up some tasty treats for the family or the big man himself, AKA Santa!

Here is one of our favorite recipes from HOPE’s Director of Sports and Recreation, Jenna McDonald.

Give it a try this month if you’d like! 

Elf on a Shelf 

HOPE’s Communications Manager, Kate Dudley, LOVES putting “Pluter,” the Dudley elf, in precarious predicaments!

If you want to add magic and laughter to your holidays, here are a few creative Elf on the Shelf ideas that will delight kids and adults alike!

Traditions, Traditions, Traditions! 

We invited our staff to share their cherished holiday traditions that make this season special. 

“I love attending the Christmas Eve church service before dinner at my grandparent’s home, where we used to have a traditional Italian seafood dinner, but lately it has been soup and small plates.” – Kathleen Shannon, Digital Marketing Manager.

“We have a tradition of gifting our grandkids a new ornament each year so that when they move out, they already have a set of ornaments to decorate their tree.” – Jory Watson, Regional Clinical Social Worker.

“One of our favorite holiday traditions is to make a big seafood meal on Christmas Eve! Even though we’re not Italian, it’s based on the Italian tradition of the Feast of Seven Fishes. After dinner, we love to gather in our den by the fire, in our Christmas pj’s, and watch A Christmas Story each year! We find that Christmas Eve is more exciting than Christmas Day with the anticipation of it all.” – Erin McCloskey, Public Relations.

“While I was in the Marine Corps and in college, we always did a Secret Santa, and of course, an ugly sweater contest.” – Charlie Mills, MVP Coordinator. 

“We wear new socks on New Year’s Day to signify a new year and a new beginning and for good fortune. We go to the movies on Christmas Eve wearing matching pajamas and open one present. On Christmas Day, we eat Cappelletti, an Italian soup.” – Jenna LaFratta, Regional Social Worker.

What are your favorite traditions? We’d love to know! Tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or X if you’d like to share. 

*For more posts from HFTW, check out their blog on our HOMEPAGE.