Sidewalk Sunday School Christmas Project

2015…

…with a look back at 2014

Of the 140 churches in the Desert Southwest Conference twenty-two churches contributed gift bags, gift cards, stuffed animals and miscellaneous gift items in 2014 for 13 Sidewalk sites. Over 1,000 children received gifts. Additional gifts are always needed.

2014 Sidewalk Sites Receiving Bags

Eloy Faith - PhoenixGlobe Gold Canyon Grace – Mesa Santa Clara (formerly Hope) – TucsonHolbrook –Naomi House Primera Iglesia - PhoenixSafford ScottsdaleUniversity – Las Vegas Zion – Las Vegas

Many Volunteers

are needed at the sites.

Volunteers are also needed to collect, inspect, count and get the bags ready to send to the sites.

Christmas 2015

….

Share the joy… …fill a gift bag!

If you have participated in the Christmas Project in the past, please note changes have been made for 2015.

• The age groupings have been changed. Please note these changes, fill the bags accordingly and mark the tags appropriately

• Everyone will be asked to use the same gift tags – a template will be provide. Please tie the tags on – no staples, tapes or pins.

• Children ages 11 & 12 will receive gift cards this year.

Types Of Bags Are Important

Purchase paper or cloth bags in the appropriate size that come decorated for Christmas or plain red or green ones. Decorated bags for birthdays or other holidays are not appropriate.

Note: cloth bags are much sturdier than paper and have additional uses by the child or the family. The cost of these are more expensive – thus, it is not a requirement to use them, merely a suggestion. Information on ordering them in bulk is available should you be interested.

Bag Size Is Important, too

Please use the appropriate sizes – anything received that is not an approved size will be re-distributed to appropriate size bags.

Bags should be no smaller than 8 across by 10 high ……………… ………… and no larger than 10 across by 13 high

The width of the bag will vary according to manufacture.

Use these size bags…

10 x 13 tall

8 by 10 tall

Not these….

13 x 16 tall

Wider than tall

7 x 9 tall

or any other size that is not the approved size.

Thanks for understanding on the bag sizes. We try to keep all the bags as similar in size as we can. Obviously it wouldn’t be fair to give one child a bag that is a lot larger than the ones the other children are receiving – nor would it be good to give one that is a lot smaller, even if the contents are more expensive.

Age Categories

If you have filled in the past, please note the new groupings this year.

Use (only) the following three age categories when filling and tagging the bags.

Ages 3 to 4 Ages 5 to 7 Ages 8 to 10

Bags may be for either a girl or a boy but must be marked according to the gender and age the bag is intended.

Suggested Gift Items For Ages 3 to 10

Anything fun that a child would like!! Please determine what is appropriate for the selected age.

crayons coloring books anything art relatedmarkers small toys comic books, story bookscards game cards games small hand held gamespuzzles dolls ballsactivity books match box cars Beanie babiesChristmas pens/pencils Christmas socks jacks, marblesjump ropes hair items bubblesNerf toys sports memorabilia small stuffed animalssports cards/trading Christian items (cross, jewelry, books)

Miscellaneous Important Instructions

Do not include monetary gift cards in the bags.

Bags need to be well filled. There is no set dollar amount for the contents, however, the bags do need to be full. Share the joy of filling the bags by having more than one person purchase items for a bag, if necessary.

Please, no weapon type toys or anything that can be used as or resembles a weapon such as swords, squirt guns, etc.

Make sure the items are NEW, not broken and that all parts are included.

Candy is permissible for the children 5 to 10. Please no hard candy for the 3 to 4 year olds. (or toys with small parts)

Please, no chocolates or peanut candies or any candy left over from a previous holiday such as Halloween or Easter

Items in the bags are not to be wrapped and nothing should be attached to the outside of the bags. Tissue paper on top of the gift items is okay.

If giving color books, please include crayons. Water color books need brushes. Flashlights need batteries. Etc. Please give the related item to make the gift “useable”. Often the children don’t have money to purchase the needed item.

$20 Walmart Gift Cards

This year all children and youth from the age 11 on up will be given $20 Walmart gift cards.

We have several churches which donate the cards. Please ask if more are needed before deciding to donate cards rather than filled bags.

Miscellaneous Gift Items

On occasion we are asked to provide a few items for newborns or young babies. Any items donated of this nature should be above and beyond the regular giving of filled gift bags for ages 3 to 10 and the $20 gift cards. We are not actively seeking gift bags for babies but welcome a miscellaneous item or two.

We do give toddlers who attend Sidewalk Sunday School with their siblings medium size stuffed animals. This year we are not actively seeking donations of these items, but will accept any that are donated above and beyond the regular filling of bags, cards, etc.

Share the joy… ...make a commitment!

Commitment Date

• Churches and individuals are asked to make their commitment to fill bags and donate gift cards by October 30, 2015. Commitments prior to that date are encourage and appreciated.

• Please contact Bev Secrist at bevsecrist@cox.net to make an individual or church group commitment, or for more information on the project.

• It is suggested that all who plan to fill bags view this slide show or be given a list of specific instructions which are available from Bev at the above email address. Copies of this slide show are available upon request.

Delivery Dates & Locations

· Churches in the Phoenix area will be asked to deliver their filled bags and donations to the United Methodist Conference Center at 1550 E. Meadowbrook, Phoenix, 85014. All donations must be delivered on November 30 between the hours of 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM. Thanks for understanding.Due to inadequate storage space this is the only time items can be accepted.

• Churches in the South District area will be asked to deliver their donations to a location in Tucson. Place and date to be determined.

• Churches in the North District area will have a specific location(s) to deliver their donations. Place and date to be determined.

Dates to remember……

Commitment – no later than October 30, 2015

Delivery date in Phoenix – November 30, 2015 between 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM to the United Methodist Conference Center at 1550 E. Meadowbrook, Phoenix

North and South District delivery dates and locations -- TBA

Thank you to all who made the

2014 Christmas project successful and to all who will

help in 2015. The SSS children, their parents and SSS volunteers

“Happiness (joy) doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.” -Ben Carson

“To get the full joy of giving, you must have someone to divide it with.” -Mark Twain

"Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile.“

-Wilfred T. Grenfell

All pictures and letters used by permission.

For more information on the Christmas Project contact Bev Secrist at bevsecrist@cox.net

The end!