The Day’s annual Make a Difference series once again lived up to its name this year.

Leaders of community organizations and nonprofits, as well as their clients, said Make a Difference, the series of short stories The Day publishes that urge its readers to donate food, money and clothing to specific people and families in need, proves that there is “so much good in the world,” and “There are so many good people in our community,” according to Susan Noyes of Safe Futures.

For about a month, from Thanksgiving to Christmas, a brief description of the need of an individual client from a specific agency appears at the bottom of the front page of the newspaper and on the homepage of the www.theday.com. The item spells out the who, what and how-to-help information. It may describe either a person or a whole family and what they need that generosity can provide. To donate, a reader contacts the named agency.

Noyes, Safe Futures’ community resource coordinator, organized a bulletin for a Safe Futures client, Amanda, who is 27, with two children, a girl, who is 4 years old, and a boy, who is 5. Safe Futures provides free and confidential, trauma-informed, client-focused programs and services for those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and trafficking in southeastern Connecticut.

Amanda, who was referred to Safe Futures’ emergency shelter by a domestic violence shelter in another state, was forced to relocate due to the proximity of her abuser. In this year’s Make a Difference, she was looking for funds toward buying a car, gift cards for groceries and necessities, clothing for the children, learning toys, coloring books and twin bedding sets.

Noyes said that, “When the bags and boxes of gifts were received by Amanda, she put her face in her hand and began to sob with disbelief and gratitude. It was a moment that had Safe Futures staff in tears as well.”

“A humble and loving young woman, she said her prayers had been answered. She moved into her own apartment with her two children just days before Christmas,” Noyes continued. “The abundance of gifts, clothing and money toward a car was overwhelming and a beautiful moment that Amanda and Safe Futures’ staff will never forget. After escaping her abusive father as a teen, and recently an abusive husband, she tearfully said this was the first Christmas she had ever had without fear.

“Amanda’s immediate concern was how to thank people for the generosity and kindness shown to her and her children.”

Amanda has long wanted to obtain her driver’s license and learn how to drive. Her abuser would not allow her to drive or have a car. She will be getting her license in a few months and looks forward to moving into her own apartment with her children.

The Thames River Family Program, which provides transitional housing for homeless, pregnant and parenting youth 18-24 years old, sent The Day information to help Lizzy Rivera. Rivera is a young mother with four children: Jose, 6, Juan, 4, Carlos, 2, and Jackie, 3 months. She became homeless from a house fire that “destroyed everything,” according to the organization. She was looking for household items, food and/or gas cards, as well as toys, clothes and diapers for her children.

Speaking through a translator, Rivera told The Day that she received the requested gift cards, toys for the kids, “and some extra money.” She saved the toys to give to her children at Christmas.

“At Christmas I didn’t have gifts for them, and now I do,” Rivera said.

Carlos and Juan love Paw Patrol, Jose is more of a Spiderman guy, and Jackie loves coloring as well as Minnie Mouse, Rivera said.

Rivera’s apartment caught fire on Jan. 1, 2022, at 3 a.m. She said the family was all home, “but we were safe because the room got smoke, and that woke us up, so I was able to take everyone outside.”

Rivera is currently living in Thames River’s transitional housing. Her hope for the new year? “Getting permanent housing.”

Rivera has worked hard to provide for her children’s basic needs. She is learning English while tackling legal, medical and employment challenges. And she continues to work with Thames River staff to overcome challenges, identify resources and set new goals.

Susan Radway, the executive director of The Riverfront Children’s Center Inc., a child care and early learning center in Groton that serves families in New London County through affordable education and care, said the organization wrote its request this year knowing “the greatest need would be emergencies that families cannot anticipate.” Riverfront sought help for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families with babies and young children in southeastern Connecticut.

“With limited income ALICE families do not usually have the extra funds when an emergency arises. That is the case for three families, who in the past week had car breakdowns that required towing (two from the center parking lot) and are trying to figure out how to manage the cost of repairs,” Radway said. “While we did not know this when we wrote the description, these three families will be the recipients of the donations we receive. The timing could not have been better for us to be able to offer assistance.”

This year was The Day’s 15th running the Make a Difference series, which was spawned during the early days of the Great Recession. It “means a great deal to the staff journalist, each of whom deals regularly with news about the hurts and harm in people’s lives,” The Day Editorial Board writes. “A Difference gives us a way to respond not just professionally — calling attention to hardship and injustice — but personally, by doing something about a problem.”

s.spinella@theday.com