Description: Celebrate the season of giving by remembering those in need. Plan an opportunity for young adults to collect gifts for a parish ministry or local nonprofit organization. As an added bonus: Add a simple fundraiser to make a donation as well.
Get Ready
- Prep Time: You should begin planning for this event in mid-November (before Thanksgiving). Begin by deciding as a group, or as the young adult ministry leader, what parish ministry or local nonprofit organization you would like to collect items for. (See more details in the “Make It Happen” section.)
- Ideal Group Size: This program will work for any group size.
- Ideal Time for This Event: Plan to collect items over the course of one week-10 days in mid-December. If you are going to add the fundraiser idea, plan that for before and/or after a well-attended Mass at your parish.
- Who is this for? All young adults.
- Supplies Needed: If you are planning a simple fundraiser like a Christmas cookie or baked good sale, you’ll want a table to display treats, cash to use for change, bags or small bakery boxes to pack things up, and maybe some colorful string or ribbon to make the packages festive.
- Reserve the Space: For the fundraiser, talk with the pastor or building manager about what space you’ll use. You might also need space in a church office or closet to store the items you collect to give away. Alternatively, someone can keep these in his/her home.
- Publicize the Program: Once you have set the dates for collecting items, spread the details through e-mail, parish bulletins, flyers, and social media. For a fundraiser, put an announcement in the parish bulletin and on any parish social media channels. Announce the fundraiser at Mass.
Prayer for Program Planner: God, I pray that this opportunity for helping those in needs will call us to focus on the real reason for the season and remind us that we are celebrating the arrival of love in our midst. May these gifts be a blessing to those who receive them and may they expand our ability to love and share your love with others. Amen.
Community Building: There are several opportunities to build community time into this program. First, you can plan a group outing to drop off the items you collect. If possible, you can try to volunteer with the parish ministry or nonprofit organization where you are donating items. You can also plan a group baking session for the Christmas cookie and baked good sale. If your parish or someone in your group has a large kitchen to use, take advantage of this time for baking and fellowship.
Make It Happen:
