Saint Andrew Christian Church

Christmas Outreach

CHRISTMAS BASKETS

The Saint Andrew Christmas Basket program has become an annual tradition during the Advent season. Of all Saint Andrew outreach programs, this one is the most popular and enjoys the greatest membership participation. During the month of December, all Christians around the world celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who came into this world to be a living example of true obedience to God the Father. Jesus became our gift when he sacrificed his life for the forgiveness of all human sin. Through Jesus, all Believers can find hope and peace and forgiveness and eternal life. In keeping with this true meaning of Christmas, members of Saint Andrew prepare gifts of food and toys for families in our community who need extra help at the holiday season. Perhaps a family crisis or a job loss has created a financial hardship or a medical condition burdens a family with extra duties and care requirements. What ever the need, we offer these gifts in the spirit of Christian love and service. During the months of November and December members of Saint Andrew offer financial donations in support of the Christmas Basket program.

Working through the school counselors in the Dublin or Worthington area, families in need are identified. The counselor makes initial contact with the family and determines their desire to be the recipient of a Saint Andrew Christmas Basket. With family agreement, the contact information along with names of all family members and ages of the children are provided to Saint Andrew Christian Church. A Saint Andrew member prepares a gift tag for each child. Their first name, age, and a gift suggestion are included on the tag. The tags are then distributed to members in early December and each person who selected a tag, shops for the child; purchasing a gift that is age and gender appropriate. Unwrapped gifts, along with wrapping paper, ribbons and bows are brought to the church along with the identifying gift tag and placed under the Saint Andrew Christmas Tree to await delivery.

Meanwhile, the grocery list must be prepared. A member telephones each family to make contact and explain further details of the basket program, the delivery time and date, and to determine the family’s meal choice of a ham or turkey. All baskets are delivered on the Saturday before Christmas, thus, shopping is done 2 days before delivery. Volunteers meet at the designated grocery store and are assigned a shopping list. The typical family will receive the following items:

Turkey or Ham	Rice
Potatoes	Eggs
Butter	Milk
Orange Juice	Cheese
Bread	Canned Vegetables
Cereal	Bisquick
Stuffing	Cookies
Canned Soups	Crackers
Peanut Butter	Jelly
Jell-O mix	Pudding mix
Flour	Sugar
Brown Sugar	Chocolate Chips
Apples	Oranges
Bananas

It’s quite a sight! A line of 20 grocery carts filled with the spirit of Christian love and giving. The groceries are packed in cars and transported back to the church where they are unloaded and non-perishable items grouped together on tables in the fellowship room.

The next night, members return to church where they begin sorting the groceries for each family. Children's’ gifts are also sorted by family, too. Finishing touches are added with packages of candy canes and hand-made scarves and caps and gloves and beanie baby animals, and of course, a bible complete with an invitation to join our Sunday Worship at Saint Andrew Christian Church.

On delivery Saturday, members return to church to select a family for delivery. Each member packs their car with groceries and gifts. With map and delivery information in hand, they are ready to meet this new family and share the Christmas Basket of gifts. But first, they gather together for a prayer. It’s a prayer of thanksgiving for the opportunity to let God’s light shine through us, it’s a prayer for humility in offering gifts to those who may not have as much as us, it’s also a prayer of celebration and joy for all Christians who follow in the footsteps of God’s perfect example – Jesus Christ. Praise be to God!

It’s unpredictable what one will encounter when going into an unknown family home. There are faces of joy and excitement, and faces of relief and thankfulness, and sometimes even faces of embarrassment and despair. Yet, everyone says “Thank You”. And for just a moment, the words “Merry Christmas” mean so much more. The members of Saint Andrew will never know the full impact of the Christmas Basket program; a program that promotes kindness and compassion and generosity during a season of celebration. But it is our prayer that seeds of hope grow into a desire to learn more about a church whose members put their faith in action with a bag of groceries and gifts of toys.