During the holidays, many families have food on the table and can happily enjoy each other’s company. However, this is not true for all families, especially those trying to rebuild their lives after having to move from one country to another to escape war. For this reason, the Claremont Canopy, a non-profit, is helping these families and has already supported more than 250 families from ten different countries.
Christy Anderson is the founder of the Claremont Canopy and started the non-profit in late 2016. “A small group of us in Claremont started hearing about families who were arriving from war-torn regions with almost nothing and trying to rebuild their lives here,” Anderson said.
It was just neighbors helping neighbors until they knew more was needed. “There were not many local resources, and the government assistance for families is now less than 90 days,” Anderson said. Thus, she and others took it upon themselves to make something in Claremont to help these refugees.
Year-round, the Claremont Canopy provides youth and education support, short-term rent supplements, and family navigation, including help with employment, transportation, healthcare access, and language support.
“Our mission has stayed to its core since the beginning; we are here to serve as an ally and advocate for newly arrived families,” Anderson said. ”Many families are also navigating complex immigration processes, so connecting them with information and resources has become an important part of our work.”
Especially during the holidays, Anderson tries to support families through feelings of homesickness. “Our families celebrate a wide variety of cultural and religious holidays throughout the year,” Anderson said. “We focus on helping all our families feel seen, supported, and celebrated during the holidays that matter most to them, whenever they occur.”
A memory Anderson treasured occurred on Christmas Eve a few years ago, when a newly arrived family from Colombia helped her assemble a dollhouse for a little girl from Venezuela. “What motivates me year after year is the families themselves,” Anderson said. “I get to witness their strength, their humor, their determination, and the incredible way they rebuild their lives despite everything they have been through.”
To help the organization continue its work this season and in the upcoming year, the biggest needs are for continued support for housing stability, expanded volunteer capacity, and increased access to legal resources. The best ways for the community to help are to volunteer (with the greatest need for tutors and drivers), make financial donations to sustain the critical rent supplement program, or fulfill practical needs by donating items from the organization’s updated wishlist. Anderson’s hope for the future is rooted in community spirit.
“My hope for the coming year is that more people in our community will stay curious, stay compassionate, and continue learning about what these families are going through,” Anderson said. “At the heart of our work is the belief that every human being deserves safety, stability, and a chance to rebuild.”
