By means of the Giving Tree at Hope Fellowship, sometimes referred to as the Angel Tree, our church deacons asked one hundred people to sign up and prepare a gift for a struggling individual or family in the community.
According to Janette, deaconate chairperson, the goal was twenty backpacks for the Refuge, twenty gift bags for Gate 3:16 (5 for Men, 5 for Women, 5 Teen Boy, 5 Teen Girl), twenty gift bags for the Pregnancy Help Centre, twenty gift bags for St. Vincent’s Kitchen and twenty gift cards for the Food Bank.
The values of the gifts varied. Each gift for the Pregnancy Help Centre was a $10 Tim Horton's card and a $15 toy. The Food Bank clients received a $25 grocery gift card over and above the other food that they were given. St. Vincent’s clients were blessed with a $25 toy.
The gifts prepared for young adults at The Refuge required some creative shopping. Each male backpack contained a personalized card, one set of Durham Region Transit bus tickets, one rolled up fleece blanket, a pair of heavy quality winter gloves, a warm winter hat, a toothbrush, a large tube of toothpaste, dental floss, a large shave gel/cream, a large deodorant, a hair brush or comb, a nail clipper, a first aid travel kit, a deck of playing cards, a small stuffed animal and one treat (candy/chocolates). Clients at The Gate were given similar gifts, with variations based on age or gender.
The Giving Tree has been an annual tradition from the beginning of Hope Fellowship’s existence, almost fifteen years ago. In fact, it can be dated back to “the Zion days.”
The deacons are grateful for the wonderful response to their challenge. The “ornaments” containing the instructions were gone within two weeks and ninety-six gifts were returned to the church for distribution by the December 8 deadline, with two late gifts trickling in this week for a grand total of ninety-eight! That’s what happens when thankful people who have been blessed with the greatest gift of all – a Saviour, Jesus the Christ – are asked to give to others.
- Pastor Peter
According to Janette, deaconate chairperson, the goal was twenty backpacks for the Refuge, twenty gift bags for Gate 3:16 (5 for Men, 5 for Women, 5 Teen Boy, 5 Teen Girl), twenty gift bags for the Pregnancy Help Centre, twenty gift bags for St. Vincent’s Kitchen and twenty gift cards for the Food Bank.
The values of the gifts varied. Each gift for the Pregnancy Help Centre was a $10 Tim Horton's card and a $15 toy. The Food Bank clients received a $25 grocery gift card over and above the other food that they were given. St. Vincent’s clients were blessed with a $25 toy.
The gifts prepared for young adults at The Refuge required some creative shopping. Each male backpack contained a personalized card, one set of Durham Region Transit bus tickets, one rolled up fleece blanket, a pair of heavy quality winter gloves, a warm winter hat, a toothbrush, a large tube of toothpaste, dental floss, a large shave gel/cream, a large deodorant, a hair brush or comb, a nail clipper, a first aid travel kit, a deck of playing cards, a small stuffed animal and one treat (candy/chocolates). Clients at The Gate were given similar gifts, with variations based on age or gender.
The Giving Tree has been an annual tradition from the beginning of Hope Fellowship’s existence, almost fifteen years ago. In fact, it can be dated back to “the Zion days.”
The deacons are grateful for the wonderful response to their challenge. The “ornaments” containing the instructions were gone within two weeks and ninety-six gifts were returned to the church for distribution by the December 8 deadline, with two late gifts trickling in this week for a grand total of ninety-eight! That’s what happens when thankful people who have been blessed with the greatest gift of all – a Saviour, Jesus the Christ – are asked to give to others.
- Pastor Peter
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