Churches and associations across Alabama assist families at Christmastime in a variety of ways, such as community collaborations, donations to support missions and operating Christmas gift shops.
One example of community collaboration is the Christmas Clearinghouse in Calhoun County in which social service agencies, civic groups and churches join together to provide for families. For the 43rd year of its existence, the program will serve 300 families with food, clothes and toys.
Frances Wright, 2003 chairperson and member of Parker Memorial Baptist Church in Anniston, loves being involved in the program because it is a way to teach children to give.
“One of the things I found most helpful when I was raising my children is we always adopted children at Christmastime and made a home visit. It was good for them to see there were other people who were less fortunate, and it helped them learn how to be humble.”
She said when children see parents minister to families they learn an example of Christ.
“This is what Christ taught us to do, to minister to needs,” said Don Walton, director of Family Services Center in Calhoun County and member of First Baptist Church, Talladega. He said his agency serves as the location for families to fill out applications for help. He believes Christmas clearinghouses are a positive way for communities to work together.
“It goes back to the grassroots of a community taking care of itself. So many of us are blessed, and by collaborating with other agencies we are meeting the needs of more families while also making sure there is not duplication,” he said.
Multiplying efforts of ministry at Christmas is something Russell Baptist Association has been doing for more than 30 years. They have distributed Christmas sacks filled with small toys and candy for children and essential items such as gloves, caps or dish towels for women the week before Christmas.
Joycelyn Carrell, director of church and community ministries, said they average giving 55 sacks a year and most of the women they help attend Bible study class at the Baptist Service Center.
“Those who attend our center are low income families. For some kids, especially girls, it is one of very few presents they get, she said. “The children especially love it.”
Items for the sacks are donated from the churches, children decorate the sacks and volunteers prepare stockings for preschoolers. Carrell said the Baptist Service Center assists families with food and screens those not receiving any type of Christmas assistance for local churches to adopt.
Making Christmas a happy time for youngsters is something Shelby Baptist Association also places as a priority.
On a recent trip to a Wal-Mart in Shelby County, Debbie Snyder spent more than $18,000 on toys and didn’t bat an eye at the check-out counter. That’s because as the mission development director for the Association, she purchased the toys for the 9th annual Christmas Gift Shop.
Total participation
The association’s help to needy families at Christmas comes from all 61 churches participating and more than 2,500 trained volunteers assisting to provide toys and clothes to 509 children and gifts to parents. They do this through the gift shop, which operates in a separate building from the Baptist Service Center.
After approval, the family receives an invitation with an appointment time to shop for gifts. Because privacy is important, last names are not used and appointments to shop are made 30 minutes apart. Upon arrival at the gift shop, a parent is greeted by director Jo Bailey and two volunteer ‘buddies‚’ who will assist in the shopping.
Pulling a red wagon, the volunteers help the parent select three toys per child and three articles of clothing, which are wrapped after selection. Each child receives a personalized stocking with $25 worth of goodies, a tin of popcorn and cookies. Every member of the family receives socks and underwear.
Snyder said while the toys are not high-priced or elaborate items, they try to fulfill the wish list as provided in the screening interview. “We do everything to personalize Christmas for children and share the gospel with parents, she said. Snyder said this year is difficult because of the economy.
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