Holiday Connections and Volunteerism

The spirit of cultural exchange and volunteerism came alive this holiday season with AuPairCare's cultural exchange program participants. For the third consecutive year, the Mitchell family partnered with Hope Supply Co., a charity in Dallas supporting homeless children, to host a heartwarming Christmas event focused on collecting toys and diapers for children in need.

The Mitchells welcomed au pairs and host families from their community and even had a visit from Santa Claus himself, offering photo opportunities in exchange for the donated supplies.

Among the volunteers for this event was Selina, an au pair from Germany. Though her host family couldn’t attend, she was determined to make a difference and thanked Area Director Ana for organizing the event.

Host mom Monica Mitchell shared her passion for the au pair program with a new host mom. Monica reflected on her successful hosting experiences: "The more you treat au pairs like family and consider them an older sibling to your children, the more appreciated they will feel. You’ll have the best au pair when you’re the best host family."

The event beautifully illustrated how cultural exchange experiences like the au pair program build meaningful connections, fosters compassion, and creates lasting memories for au pairs and host families. It allowed au pairs to learn about U.S. Christmas traditions and values. The Mitchells' home had once again become a space for hope and kindness, reminding everyone that we can make the world a better place.

‍