Community Services - Christmas
Christmas Giving Tree
The Giving Tree is a true ministry to our needy families. Each child receives one new clothing outfit and at least one new toy. The Giving Tree helps over 200 children each year. People who support this ministry make Christmas a special time and lift a burden from our needy families. Delivering these gifts to the children is the best part of Christmas. These gifts are never unwrapped and are delivered the same way that they come into our care. Many parents will use these gifts as "Santa" gifts and hide them away until Christmas. Some prefer to tell their children where they come from, either way the reward is the same. Christmas is the time for giving. Each staff person, supporter, and volunteer receives that special blessing as does the client.Christmas Food Boxes
The Christmas food boxes are a special blessing for the families that can't afford a traditional holiday meal. The Settlement gives 250 boxes each Christmas season. Many things are taken for granted like pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, or ham. The Christmas box includes enough food to prepare a complete holiday meal. The food items are made available to us at a very low cost through God's Food Pantry. This along with the generosity of churches and individuals that support this ministry make it possible for us to help many families during the holiday season. Thank you to the people that support our ministries and care about our families and community. Without this support it is impossible to provide this Christmas meal.Outreach Christmas Party
We have an Outreach Christmas party to cover all of the children in our programs. This includes the Day Care and MIHOW children as well as the after-school and children participating in other programs here at the Settlement. Hundreds of people both young and old hear the story of Christmas and share in a prayer of thanksgiving. Then each child receives two gifts. The families receive a personal care box and a blanket to take home. This is the largest of all the gift giving we do and it takes a lot of hard work from many supporters each year.Christmas is the time for giving. Each staff person, supporter, and volunteer receives that special blessing as does the client.