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Angel Tree

Dec 2nd, 2011 by

Every year at Christmas our church sets up tables where you can sign up for different serving opportunities. Here are this year’s  ‘Holiday Compassion Projects’:

  • Purchasing gifts through a Global Holiday Gift Catalog that Bayside created.  The money benefits charities that address social justice issues (sex-trafficking & HIV/AIDS), plants churches, provides entrepreneurial development in third world countries and more.   Here is a link to their catalog: Global Holiday Gift Catalog 
  • Adopt a Family:  Adopt a family in need at our church or in our community.  Provide Christmas gifts and meal for the family.
  • Christmas Angel:  This project is kind of a ministry within a ministry.  Parents participating in the Teen Challenge restoration program (a 12 to 18 month drug and alcohol addiction program offered to people of all ages), will be reunited with their children at Christmas. A gift donation will provide them with an opportunity to give their child a present at Christmas.
  • Food Drive: Fill a bag of non-perishable food items and bring to church.  The food will be donated to the Place County Food Bank.
  • North Roseville R.E.C. Center:  Donate a food basket or a toy for ‘Santa’s Secret Store’, a place where struggling families can “shop” for their children for free.
  • Operation:Mom: Create a care package that will be sent to deployed military troops.
  • Salvation Army: Red Kettle Bell Ringer:  Sign up to ring the bell at a local station.
  • Angel Tree:  In partnership with Chuck Colson’s famous Prison Fellowship Ministries, provide a gift for children on behalf  incarcerated parents.
  • Shoe Drive: Donated shoes will go directly to Soles 4 Souls, a ministry that facilitates the distribution of new and gently worn shoes to 125 countries on 5 continents.
  • Toys for the Troops’ Kids:  Donate a toy to be given on behalf of a parent who is currently deployed overseas.
This year, the boys and I decided to ring the bells again for a couple of shifts.  We enjoyed it last year, and I think the kids generate more donations than adults do.
Our family also decided to participate in the Angel Tree ministry this year.
Did you know…
…that 1.7 million children have a parent serving time?
…1 in 3 prisoners is a parent?
To participate in this ministry, you agree to buy a clothing item and a toy for a child.  Each item needs to equal $20. So, for each child, you spend $40. (The dollar amount is important for consistency with other children in the same family that are also receiving gifts from the program.)
We took packets for two children.  On the cover of the packet was the child’s name, gender, and age.  It also had the clothing and gift request, unique to that child.
Inside each packet was a large plastic garbage bag, and gift tags that contain a personal message from the parent.
We bought a winter coat and hot wheel set for one child, and a couple pair of pants, a shirt, and hot wheel set for the other child.  I wrapped the gifts and placed the gift tags on each gift, then placed the gifts in bag. (The bag has a sticker that has a number that coordinates with the numbers on the gift tags.)
I did not give much thought to the process, until I pulled out a gift tag.  On the gift tag was written:“I love you so much and want you to know that even though you can’t see me, I am with you on this day.
Love, Mommy”
Mommy. Mommy?  Mommy!I was rocked to the core.  It never occurred to me that we would be providing a gift on behalf of a mother!  This simple little inscription made me look at this situation in a completely different light.

As I researched more about ‘Angel Tree’, I learned that the incarcerated parents actually sign their children up.  The parent also receives mentoring while incarcerated.

From one mother to another, I pray that she receives the guidance and skills she needs to be the parent and person God has made her to be.  Thank you to this ministry that helps accomplish that.

Posted in SERVE

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