Christmas gifts for shelter residents

On December 24, 2013, parishioners of Church of the Redeemer, Kenmore, Washington, delivered gifts and preparations to make Christmas dinner to residents of the Kenmore Family Homeless Shelter operated by Hopelink. This was with the assistance of parishioners from Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church, Shoreline, Washington.

According to Canon John Fergueson, Rector of Church of the Redeemer says that parishioners of Redeemer have been doing this for 20 years. Parishioners of Holy Apostles started assisting 10 years ago. Members of both congregations closely coordinate activities to make this annual event a success. These activities include a shopping trip for parents to buy gifts, buying gifts for residents, and buying Christmas dinner preparations.

Parishioners from Redeemer delivered the gifts following the 4:00 pm children’s Eucharist on December 24.

Michelle Terry says this about this annual project:

"Because God gave us the best gift when he brought Jesus into the world for us, it is our responsibility to use this time of year to give to others. While Christmas is a happy time of year, it can be very stressful with your family displaced to a shelter.

"We want to remind these families that they are not alone. We want to lessen the struggles they are going through.

"A lot of work goes in to the delivery of these gifts. It is all worth it to see what it means to these families. We give a feeling of hope, joy, and love during this season that we hope carries with them."

Shopping trip

The shopping trip occurred on Saturday, December 14. Parishioners took parents to a local big box store to make purchases. While they were gone, there was a party with activities for the children. When the parents return, everyone has lunch.

The activity involved personalizing a stuffed teddy bear. Initially, the boys thought this was an activity for girls. That is, until the boys realized they could turn their teddy bear into a football player.

Gift purchases

There were gifts purchased, as requested for each resident. These gifts can include clothes, coats, and fun items. People purchasing the gifts bring them to Redeemer—wrapped, labeled, and ready to go.

This year there were purchases for 7 adults and 12 children.

Food purchases

Each resident receives everything to prepare Christmas dinner. This is not simply providing a turkey, some potatoes, a vegetable, and best wishes.

Residents of the Kenmore family homeless shelter received the following to prepare Christmas dinner:

• Turkey, stuffy, gravy, and a disposable roasting pan
• Fruit and vegetables, including cranberries, potatoes, and yams
• Bread and rolls
• Frozen pie and topping
• Can opener and peeler

Gift delivery

The operation to prepare food and gifts for delivery is in the parish hall at Church of the Redeemer. It takes the work of many people to organize everything by the end of the Children’s Eucharist on Christmas Eve. Before distribution, Canon Fergueson blessed the gifts before they were taken to the shelter.

Michelle Terry stepped up to coordinating the gift delivery for the first time this year. She said this about preparing gifts for the shelter:

"Every year since I was about 6 or 7 years old, I have helped with preparing gifts for the Kenmore Family Shelter. I have taken on more responsibility with this outreach project as I have gotten older. Each year it brings me more and more joy."

Adam Austin, another young adult at Redeemer, had this to say about delivering the gifts and food:

"I like being helpful. I like helping people."

Gracy Karp had this to say:

"This is what it is all about. [Christmas] isn’t about you and me. What you do to the least of these, you do unto me."

Hopelink

Hopelink is the largest social services agency serving north and east King County, Washington. It provides 35 services to more than 60,000 people every year in these areas:

• Food
• Housing
• Family Development
• Adult Education
• Financial Education
• Transportation
• Energy Assistance
• Emergency Financial Assistance

Families become homeless for many reasons, including the following:

• Domestic violence
• Sudden lay-offs
• Unaffordable rent increases
• The high cost of medical care for an unforeseen illness or injury

These are some of the crises that sometimes leave families without a roof over their heads. Every family needs a safe, stable home base. This is especially important for children. Hopelink works on many levels to help families find or stay in safe, affordable housing.

Hopelink has a new way to access housing information by phone.  Call 211 with any questions regarding access to the housing program at Hopelink. The 211 program is a statewide assistance line.

There is more information at win211.org.

Holy Apostles Green Orthodox Church

The mission of Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church is to be an extended village, welcoming and encouraging both adults and children to participate in the Orthodox Christian Faith, as we grow together, like the Holy Apostles, to know, love and serve Jesus Christ.

Church of the Redeemer

Community life at Church of the Redeemer centers on worship in the Episcopal tradition. Art and music vitally deepen this worship. Our faith expresses itself with service to people, locally to internationally.

Church of the Redeemer is in Kenmore, Washington, at 6211 NE 182nd Street. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. Contact Redeemer at (425) 486-3777 or office@redeemer-kenmore.org. The website URL is redeemer-kenmore.org.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

http://redeemer-kenmore.org/2013/12/25/christmas-gifts-shelter-residents/