2013 Christmas Giving Helps More Than 600
The Catholic Center on Evansville’s north side practically overflowed with giving the week of Dec. 9 – all thanks to Catholic Charities’ 2013 Christmas Giving program.
“We had 72 donor groups adopt a total of 147 families this year,” said Laura Chandley, Catholic Charities’ Community Outreach Specialist. “Those adoptions meant that we served 615 individuals, including 392 children.”
The overall numbers are even higher. Chandley explained that because some people are not interested in shopping for specific gifts for specific people, the program accepts cash and gift-card donations that are provided to other families to help brighten their Christmas morning.
She said churches, ministry groups, businesses, families, schools, classrooms and individuals adopted families this year. “We partnered with Healthy Families Vanderburgh, Healthy Families Warrick, DCS of Warrick County and Churches Embracing Offenders to identify families in need this Christmas,” Chandley said.
“We matched them with donors, and provided the donors with basic information on family members – first name, age, gender and sizes – so they could shop for everyone.”
Donors delivered their wrapped gifts to the Catholic Center on Dec. 9 and 10, and families picked up the gifts provided especially for them on Dec. 11 or 12. “Volunteers have played a big role in helping us at the Catholic Center,” Chandley said. The Loogootee Youth Group, Good Shepherd Parish Youth Group, students from St. Benedict School and Memorial High School, and others helped out. “I also want to especially thank Candy Butler, who has been one of our key volunteers throughout the years,” Chandley added.
If you’d like to be on the mailing list to participate in next year’s Christmas Giving program, call Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Evansville at (812) 423-5456.
‘Making a difference’ impacts St. Benedict eighth-graders
Eighth graders from St. Benedict Cathedral School comment on how volunteering – and seeing that they were making a difference in others’ lives – will affect their own Christmas.
Maxwell:“I am going to appreciate Christmas more now.”
Conor: “Being able to help these families has greatly affected my Christmas. It has greatly humbled me, and I will remember this.”
Dylan: “I think helping people today helps people have a good time through rough times, and it helps me see how other people live, and hard it is for many people. It helps me realize how good my life is.”
Claire: “Helping others today makes me thankful for what I do have. It also teaches me not to take things for granted.”
Jacob: “I’ll feel good when I open my presents this year because I’ll know that the families we help are doing the same.”
Kailyn: “Realizing and seeing first-hand that so many people can’t afford Christmas and are only able to give their families a couple gifts makes me more appreciative of and grateful for what I receive every Christmas.”
Mary Claire: “Volunteering today affects my Christmas in many ways. It has made me feel more thankful for all I have, and this experience has given me a better look at what Christmas is all about. Many years I have asked for a lot of fancy clothes and electronics, but helping out here makes me examine myself and take a step back to see that I don’t need all those things to make me happy.”
Ashlyn: “Helping today has really changed my attitude. I realize that when being selfish, there are others out there who have much less than me. This is such a great experience, and I would love to do it again.”
Alex: “This experience has taught me not to be ungrateful and not to take things for granted.”
Caroline: “Helping others today helps me realize how blessed I am; also, how many things I take for granted.”
