Throughout December, we saw many lives changed because of your giving. You and the rest of our family inundated us with items from toy drives, sock drives, toiletry drives, coat drives, and more. On top of those donations, we have seen generous financial gifts and their results. Here are some snapshots of the difference you made in December 2023:
#1: The Gift of Christmas
Paul* joined the Changed Life Recovery Program in December. Like many new residents, he was emotionally drained when moving to the Mission. Lisa Catania is the staff person overseeing our residential Christmas adoption program, and she found a sponsor for Paul. She called him into her office and explained, “We would love for you to feel the love of Christ while you are here through the Christmas season.” When she asked what he would like for Christmas, he was shocked. After some thought, he said he wanted a used guitar. Lisa then asked if he had children; he said he had three. When she asked what they wanted for Christmas, Paul welled up with emotion. Choking back tears, he gratefully explained that he did not think he would be able to provide anything for his family this Christmas.
#2: The Gift of Clothing
Brenda Bell works in Rescued Treasures, our clothing ministry. When people delivered hundreds of coats from a coat drive, Brenda was grateful but overwhelmed because she would have to sort all the coats on top of her other duties. She saw a woman with her toddler in line for Rescued Treasures and noticed neither was wearing a coat. In fact, the little girl was barefoot! Brenda found shoes that fit the child, coats that were like new for both mother and daughter and other clothing necessities. The mother was profoundly grateful, and when Brenda saw the deep emotion in her eyes, all the dread she felt about sorting through coat donations disappeared.
#3: The Gift of Food
Your generosity allowed us to hold a Christmas clothing and food giveaway, distributing hundreds of turkeys and the ingredients for complete Christmas dinners. Jeanie* is especially grateful for events like that; her husband works two jobs, but rising food prices have made it impossible for them to feed their four children.
#4: The Gift of Toys
These blessings are only possible because of the generosity of our Mission family. Thanks to multiple toy drives, desperate people “shopped” for free gifts for their children. They heard the Christmas story in English and Spanish from Leo Bermudez, the Senior Pastor of the Center Church. We opened online registration for 208 spots for the toy giveaway, and within a day, the rolls were filled.
#5: The Gift of Warmth
When Edwin* recently passed away, his family could not imagine how they would celebrate Thanksgiving without him. Edwin’s passion was helping homeless individuals, so his family decided to collect items in his memory. They brought the Mission a vast collection of waterproof gloves, hand warmers, long underwear, and winter socks. Edwin’s family blessed dozens of homeless individuals in his name as the weather turned colder.
The hearts of many are growing colder, but the warmth of the Mission family is greater than ever. You are “children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15b). We encounter many people in crisis situations, but your compassion gives them hope.
*These names were changed.
