Description: This program organizes young adults to help families in need during the Christmas season and give them Christmas gifts. Pairing with a local charity organization, young adults are encouraged to meet the families in order to make their giving more personal.
Get Ready
- Prep Time: Five months
- Volunteers Needed: At least one coordinator if you are working on this in your local parish or campus ministry. You might also work together with other young adult groups in your area. In that case, have at least one coordinator and one volunteer from each group work together to pull this off (see more details for working with multiple groups or an entire diocese in the “Make It Happen (diocese)” section).
- Ideal Group Size: Unlimited! The only real constraint is finding a space big enough for the wrapping party.
- Who is this for? Young adults, married or single, who want to spend time helping others. This program is most successful with post-college age young adults, but can work with all young adults.
- When is a good time for this program? Fall leading into Advent and Christmas.
- Supplies: A connection to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, your local Catholic Charities (a quick Internet search will turn this up), or a similar social service agency; wrapping paper; ribbon; bows; gift tags; party decorations; food/refreshments for a party; tape; scissors.
- Reserve the Space: Find a room at your parish large enough to host your “wrapping party.” You’ll need one room to fit as many as have RSVPed. You might also host this in someone’s home if space/number of people permits.
- Publicize the Program:
- Distribute flyers at all fall young adult programs, and also make special invitations to be e-mailed to the groups you hope will participate in your parish/community or on your campus.
- Post this project on your parish or campus ministry website, Facebook, and Twitter.
- Create a Facebook event for your wrapping party and ask people to RSVP to get a good idea of how many people will attend. (Although many will be willing to donate money or buy presents, not everyone will be able to come to the wrapping party.)
Prayer for Program Planner: Jesus, our humble servant, we thank you for the many blessings you have given us in our lives. Please grant us the strength to serve with the same persistence as you. Allow our service to provide peace to the families we help, and to see you in all that we do. Amen.
Community Building: This program builds community in two ways. First, the young adult group establishes a relationship with the people they serve. They are encouraged to call them, visit them, organize their gift giving with them. Visiting the families after Christmas and praying with and for the families are greatly encouraged. Secondly, community is built at the party. Young adults mingle and get to know one another.
