The Spirit OF
CHristmAs By Andrea Brown Ross | Photography courtesy of Forrest Spence Fund
Empathy. Understanding. Hope.
These are words of compassion from a Memphis family whose journey through personal tragedy has endeared them to many others on a similar journey. For families with hospitalized children, feeling the holiday spirit can be difficult when a loved one is hurting and the burden of medical expenses is looming. For those in this situation, the Forrest Spence Fund assists with the non-medical needs of families with critically ill or chronically ill children. In 2009, the Spence family began visiting families in
the hospital on Christmas Day. They would disperse wrapped books to each family as they went from room-to-room. And what started as a family service project has evolved into an incredible amount of volunteer efforts touching the lives of thousands. Now on their fourth annual toy drive, the fund has already given thousands of gifts to patients, siblings, and DeSoto 57