Zoey’s Angels: Geneseo Woman Helps Others in Honor of Her Niece
By Brendan McDonough // Published Dec 23, 2020; Updated Dec 24, 2020
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GENESEO – For Julie Bennett of Geneseo the holidays are not about getting gifts but instead trying to make the holidays brighter for those who are less fortunate.
“We just do what we gotta do to make sure that every child has the Christmas that they need, if their parents are unable to do it,” said Bennett.
Since around July or August she has been collecting the names of children and families in need and then matching them up to people who want to help out.
“I reach out to all the families, who are normally sent to us through referral through churches, CPS, domestic violence shelters. I then reach out to all the parents or guardians of these children and ask them what their wish list is,” said Bennett, who is also a local daycare provider.
The program is called, ”Zoey’s Christmas Angels.” It is named after her niece Zoey who passed away in 2018 of a diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas brain tumor. Zoey was just 5 years old.
“I feel like it brings me closer to Zoey and I miss her a little less, when I am doing these things in her name for other children,” said Bennett.
Running the program has not been easy. It originally was started by her local church nearly six years ago but after they decided to go in a different direction Bennett has been running it herself for the past three years.
“This year due to COVID-19 the need was so great, but we did not have the sponsorship, so we had to limit the program a little. We still helped 65 children this year,” said Bennett.
To get that help Bennett said she calls upon just about anyone and everyone she knows and has even taken to social media to help collect donations.
“I reach out to my friends, family, day care families or sometimes I will expand it on Facebook. People will reach out to me and I will send them the wish list and they will decide if they want to sponsor a kid,” said Bennett.
Instead of asking for the latest gadgets she said this year the children have been asking for more basic gifts.
“The majority of people wanted warm clothes, socks, warm blankets and that is sad to me,” Bennett said. “Children are asking for warm clothes and other kids are asking an Xbox. This is a great lesson for children because they really get to see how fortunate they are.”
Bennett and some of her friends held a wrapping party earlier this month at the Interfaith Center in Geneseo.
Helping to give gifts to other children reminds Bennett of her niece Zoey, who she loved so much.
“Zoey and I loved Christmas. We would wrap gifts together and make gingerbread houses. We are king of Christmas crazy in my family,” said Bennett.
In addition to gifts Bennett said she is also helping the families enjoy a holiday meal by giving them either a ham or a turkey.
“Food is a big issue and that is why we tried to provide dinner this year,” said Bennett.
For Bennett, “Zooey’s Christmas Angels” is a program that she said not only helps others during the holidays but makes her feel good to know that she made a difference.
“If there is a need, I always try to help others. They were asking already to be on the program again for next year. It just breaks my heart that people feel like they have no place to go or no where to turn,” said Bennett.
To provide additional help Bennett said she is also doing what she can to make sure the shelves at local food pantries are stocked. It’s one small step, Bennett said, to make the holiday brighter for others and honor her niece.
“Zoey will have the best seat in the house on Christmas morning, seeing all the joy brought to these children in her name,” said Bennett.
“We just do what we gotta do to make sure that every child has the Christmas that they need, if their parents are unable to do it,” said Bennett.
Since around July or August she has been collecting the names of children and families in need and then matching them up to people who want to help out.
“I reach out to all the families, who are normally sent to us through referral through churches, CPS, domestic violence shelters. I then reach out to all the parents or guardians of these children and ask them what their wish list is,” said Bennett, who is also a local daycare provider.
The program is called, ”Zoey’s Christmas Angels.” It is named after her niece Zoey who passed away in 2018 of a diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas brain tumor. Zoey was just 5 years old.
“I feel like it brings me closer to Zoey and I miss her a little less, when I am doing these things in her name for other children,” said Bennett.
Running the program has not been easy. It originally was started by her local church nearly six years ago but after they decided to go in a different direction Bennett has been running it herself for the past three years.
“This year due to COVID-19 the need was so great, but we did not have the sponsorship, so we had to limit the program a little. We still helped 65 children this year,” said Bennett.
To get that help Bennett said she calls upon just about anyone and everyone she knows and has even taken to social media to help collect donations.
“I reach out to my friends, family, day care families or sometimes I will expand it on Facebook. People will reach out to me and I will send them the wish list and they will decide if they want to sponsor a kid,” said Bennett.
Instead of asking for the latest gadgets she said this year the children have been asking for more basic gifts.
“The majority of people wanted warm clothes, socks, warm blankets and that is sad to me,” Bennett said. “Children are asking for warm clothes and other kids are asking an Xbox. This is a great lesson for children because they really get to see how fortunate they are.”
Bennett and some of her friends held a wrapping party earlier this month at the Interfaith Center in Geneseo.
Helping to give gifts to other children reminds Bennett of her niece Zoey, who she loved so much.
“Zoey and I loved Christmas. We would wrap gifts together and make gingerbread houses. We are king of Christmas crazy in my family,” said Bennett.
In addition to gifts Bennett said she is also helping the families enjoy a holiday meal by giving them either a ham or a turkey.
“Food is a big issue and that is why we tried to provide dinner this year,” said Bennett.
For Bennett, “Zooey’s Christmas Angels” is a program that she said not only helps others during the holidays but makes her feel good to know that she made a difference.
“If there is a need, I always try to help others. They were asking already to be on the program again for next year. It just breaks my heart that people feel like they have no place to go or no where to turn,” said Bennett.
To provide additional help Bennett said she is also doing what she can to make sure the shelves at local food pantries are stocked. It’s one small step, Bennett said, to make the holiday brighter for others and honor her niece.
“Zoey will have the best seat in the house on Christmas morning, seeing all the joy brought to these children in her name,” said Bennett.