A family is having a merrier Christmas than they expected, thanks to staff from a local hotel.
The Corpus Christi Embassy Suites and the Salvation Army worked together to offer a local family in need a sort of Christmas vacation. But for the family, it’s really more of a holiday miracle.
“You know the feeling when your heart kind of drops in your stomach when you’re getting ready to get in a roller coaster? That’s the feeling that I felt when I saw the room,” said Adrian Richardson.
Her holiday just got a lot happier. The single mother was staying at the Salvation Army shelter with her four children, working as a Bell Ringer to make ends meet.
But this Christmas, the family is enjoying an all expenses paid stay at the Embassy Suites.
“I’m extremely grateful, and I’m thankful to everybody for having us,” said Richardson. “I feel truly blessed; we were not expecting this to happen to us.”
For staff, the looks on the kids’ faces said everything.
“We just want to make a difference in a family’s life when it comes to Christmas,” said Dorina Perez, a member of the hotel’s ‘Make a Difference’ committee.
The committee raised money by selling cookies and enchiladas to make a Christmas wish come true.
This isn’t the first year Embassy Suites helped families at Christmas, but this year staff took it a step further by offering the family a stay in the hotel.
The family’s suite was packed with presents as well as plenty of goodies for Jayden (8), Mikah (6), Zaire (5), and Isabella (2).
“This was, I want to say, the best Christmas they have ever, ever, ever, ever had,” said Richardson.
Perez understands Adrian’s struggles.
“It’s hard,” said Perez. “I’m a mother of three, and it’s difficult when you’re a single parent trying to support the children.”
The best gift was saved for last, and it was for Adrian. A job at the hotel.
“Words cannot even express it,” said Richardson. “I don’t even know what I would say, I am extremely, totally grateful.”
The family will stay in their suite tonight and tomorrow, before checking out Wednesday. Tthe hotel hopes to make this a holiday tradition, eventually hosting as many as two or three families.
