We served 250 persons, 75 homeless persons and 8 Families

Part 1) 
First of all, I want to thank all the Volunteers who prayed for the project, who prayed for those who would receive the gifts, and for the needed donations and that there would be enough volunteers.  Without God being at the root of this, we have no business doing it. So thank you so much! It's success started and ended with all your prayers!

Part 2) 
I had 6 core people who helped me tremendously; Michael and Tina Johnston, Paula Rodriguez,  Anne Dennehy, and Kathy Sperle and Theresa McGregor . They contacted facilities, contacted site people, and worked one on one with them.  They even shopped for these facilities as each person living there had a special want we tried to fill on their list. Two special angels even bought towel sets for 62 residents at Alderwood! Mary and Charlene were my major wrappers and I had Shirley and Kathy filling out personalized cards to 250 folks!! 

Part 3)  
We collected all your donations to fill the bags and stockings we bring to these people. First, the sorters came and were simply amazing.  They blasted through there like an organized Red Cross triage group.  You'd think they'd had worked together for years, yet it was most of their first time together.  They were so good, we were filling gift bags within three hours.  

Part 4) 

I had about 20 people over the next few days filling gift bags and wrapping the contents in the bags over the next day and a half.  we did around 250 bags.  We used ALL your donations. With your monetary donations, I purchased the gift bags to put the items in, and anything we ran short in.  

 Part 5) 

We had 8 Families that we either bought for or gave gift cards to so they could give their family a Christmas.  Hearts with a Mission gave us some of their excess toys or items to pass on to our Families' children.  Our parishioner, Anita Wright, facilitated that.   THANK YOU HEARTS WITH A MISSION!!!  I went through your donations and some of you donated fancy, beautiful, and nice women's gifts. I pulled them out, wrapped and gave them to the mommas of these families because they never buy gifts for themselves. They always only think of their children with the money they receive and do not spend it on themselves. I love to see the look on their faces when they get their gifts too.  That is one of my favorite things to do in Emmanuel. So thank you to you thoughtful women out there who think about and donate those kind of gifts too. 

Part 6) 
Volunteers loaded up their cars and delivered the bags. Our Eucharistic Ministered brought their homebound theirs during their visits as well. There were so very thankful. We were able to do personal visits at 5 of the 9 facilities we brought gifts to. Our children and their families caroled at two of them.  

What a wonderful way to do the Acts of Mercy and Spiritual Acts of Mercy during the Christmas season. That is the true spirit of Christmas.  Once again, many, many thanks to all those who participated.  We had the retired, to the seniors, to those home from college to whole families participating.  

May God bless you all always. See you next year!
 
Joyce Marks-Emmanuel Program Coordinator
 

Shepherd of the Valley Outreach Ministry