“The reactions have been amazing. Some were in tears. Every mother who picked up bags/boxes of wrapped presents were overwhelmed by the huge showing of love, support, and generosity by your congregation. I know that each one of them will have a Christmas that would have been impossible without all of you! I know that it will be even more amazing to the children come Christmas morning. May the grace of God and the love of Jesus Christ abide in you and with you always!” So wrote Patty Gross, the senior program worker at Friendship House, just before Christmas in 2019.
After Christmas of 2019, Alice Smith wrote the following: “This year members of SsAM exceeded all previous years of giving to the less fortunate for Christmas. We were able to give four gifts each to 26 recipients and gift cards to eleven mothers. Thanks to those whose who gave cash, we were able to accommodate a wish for a bicycle and one for a stroller for a three-month-old baby. This generosity speaks to Richard Rohr’s charge in the last Sunday bulletin about getting the job of love done.”
Photo:
Alice Smith, right, was photographed in the auditorium with scores of Angel Tree cards for people to take. Here we see Sallie Bell deciding which family to choose.
On each Angel Tree card is the name of a family (mothers with children) who are residing in Friendship House’s transitional housing. Also on the card is what presents their children would like to get for Christmas. In taking a card, the donor agrees to purchase that present, wrap it, and bring it back to church for distribution. In this small way, many families have a happier Christmas. Besides Alice Smith, praise goes to SsAM member Sandy Holt for making this ministry happen.
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