(This story is based on the real voices and messages received from multiple families supported by Florence.)

As Christmas approaches, the streets gradually light up with festive cheer. Supermarket shelves fill with stocking-shaped candy boots, and classrooms and nurseries buzz with excitement about Santa Claus and presents.
Many parents and children look forward to this magical time of year.
However, for some single-parent households, this season brings mixed and heavy emotions.

The recent rise in the cost of living in Japan has heavily impacted families raising children.

Every day is a relentless cycle of working while raising children as a single parent. Rent. Food. Utilities.

With prices continuing to soar, there is little room to breathe in their daily budget.

"It’s Christmas, so I want to do something special for them. But this year, it might be impossible..."

Many parents find themselves trapped in these thoughts. Even as they try to stay bright and cheerful for their children, a painful sense of guilt lingers in their hearts: "Am I making them hold back too much?" "Are they feeling lonely compared to the kids around them?"

To support these single-parent families, Florence organizes a "Special Christmas Delivery" program, bringing food, daily necessities, sweets, and toys directly to their doorsteps.

In 2025, thanks to your generous donations, we were able to deliver holiday presents to 157 households. Click here for details: https://florence.or.jp/news/87102/ (Japanese only)

"Look, Mommy! There’s a Present for You, Too!"

Inside the delivery boxes, we packed not only essential food and daily supplies but also sweets and toys for the children.

And we added one more thing. We included bath salts and warming eye masks specifically for the parents.

Balancing a hectic daily life, these parents always put themselves last. We wanted to give them a moment to just breathe and unwind, even if only for a little while. That was our hope.

When opening the boxes, one child reportedly looked up in excitement and said: "Wow!!! Look, Mommy! There’s a present for you, too!"

The mother shared that in that exact moment, tears nearly welled up in her eyes.

We received another heartwarming message from a different parent: "Seeing that there were so many gifts not just for my child, but for me as a mother... As a single parent raising a child in isolation every single day, just knowing that someone out there is rooting for me truly saved my heart."

Those who receive support, and those who give it—we don’t believe people should be sharply divided into these two categories.

Simply feeling that "someone cares about me" or "someone is watching over us" can become a vital lifeline for parents and children trapped in isolation.

What We Pack into the Boxes is More Than Just Food

What Florence delivers is not just material aid. Inside those boxes, alongside the sweets and necessities, is a vital message: "You are not alone." "It’s okay to rely on others." "We are here for you."

In fact, these deliveries frequently serve as a starting point, leading families to professional consultations or helping them access the further support they need. At first, it’s just about receiving a bag of rice. Or just receiving a holiday present. But that tiny spark can become the gateway that reconnects an isolated family back to society.

That is why Florence’s work does not end with just shipping boxes. Knowing you have a place to turn to when you’re in trouble. Being connected to necessary support. And realizing that "I don't have to carry this all on my own." We believe that true support encompasses all of these things.

Toward a Society Where We Know "There is Someone to Rely On"

The challenges single-parent families face go beyond financial hardships. Isolation. Anxiety. The painful burden of having no one to show your weaknesses to.

These factors layer upon one another, gradually choking out the joy in daily life.

That is why what they need most is not just physical goods, but human connection.

It is not a matter of dividing the world into those who need help and those who don’t. Everyone has moments in life when they need a helping hand.
Florence continues to work toward a society where anyone can feel safe saying, "I need help," and deeply feel that "I am not alone" whenever they need it.

And it is your donations that bring this connection to one more family every single day.

Let’s build a society where everyone truly knows that "they are not alone." Your support through the Tokyo Marathon 2027 Charity will be the driving force to make this a reality.

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NPO Florence is an official charity of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation Charity RUN with HEART.

Your generous donations will be carefully used to bring smiles to many children and their families.
Please consider joining Tokyo Marathon 2027 Charity as a Charity Runner for Florence!

 For more details, please visit our special page.
https://florence.or.jp/marathon/en/

Florence Website：https://florence.or.jp/english/

Email: kifu@florence.or.jp

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