Courtesy of "Brock Citizen", Jan. 1 2003 edition

"It is more blessed to give than receive."  This common saying is most appropriate for the St. Paul's Christmas Wish Program.  

What is the program “CHRISTMAS WISH”?

We offer the less fortunate families in Brock Township (Beaverton, Cannington, Sunderland) an opportunity to have a little happier Christmas in their troubled times.  This worthwhile and much needed program fulfills the wishes of those not so fortunate and brings a small ray of sunshine to their life for a brief moment.

A brief history of the Christmas Wish Program:

In 1991 - Brock Good Neighbors offered the Christmas Wish program for the first time. Churches and organizations in Brock Township were asked to have representatives present at these meetings.  I was one of the 2 representatives for Parish of Brock.

In  1992 - Brock Good Neighbors decided not to continue the Christmas Wish program. The incumbent for Parish of Brock thought the program should be continued and co-originated the Christmas Wish program for Parish of Brock at St Paul’s.  Our first year we had 12 families by referrals.

In 1993 - St Paul’s contacted and worked together with Social Services for Brock Township, keeping the program alive ever since.

A Church Full of Christmas Wishes

There has been a steady growth in the numbers of less fortunate families in Brock Township.  We are now registering 70-75 families for this program.  This program is heartily endorsed by Social Services for Brock Township and we require much assistance.  The staff informs their clients about the program and readily accepts this additional duty.  To be on our list the families must phone Rev. Ted and ask to be included in the Christmas Wish program.  We trust not many will lie to our priest.  Working together with Social Services we can also help families being in the gray area.  These are people who have been cut off welfare or who have tried to better themselves with a job.  In a lot of cases they are legitimately making a pay cheque within $10.00 more than they were receiving but are lost all benefits.  They hurt and are in desperate circumstances.

Because of the structure of our program we have earned the respect and support of Family Reality Toy Drive and Brock Food Bank.  This year Mark Brodie (Family Reality) will supply the toys to children under 6 (George Chandler and Bill Collins have both retired, but may still help,) and Brock Food Bank give the Food Hampers.  What a wonderful working togetherness in the Community and an Outreach program for St Paul’s.

Wrapping Assembly Line

I must emphasize St Paul’s only coordinates this program.  It has become such a big endeavor we have to rely not only the generosity of this congregation but on churches, schools, organizations, companies and concerned individuals throughout Brock Township.  It is gratifying to have more and more support each year for this program.  An accomplishment for St Paul’s Outreach program.

After the family contacts Rev. Ted a profile is made up in each family with ages, sizes of all members in the family including Moms and Dads.  This also including adults who are receiving social assistance and live in poor situations e.g. One couple with only one cheque coming into the house- husband has cancer- not much left after rent, drugs prescriptions- their wish was for winter boots.  This also covers adults receiving disability assistance.  What a pleasure to be able to fulfill their wishes and being a small ray of sunshine to their life for a brief moment.  It also offers the people of Brock Township the opportunity to help children only moms and dads and family for needy individuals-whatever there choice.

The profile also includes the needs or wishes of each, member of the family.  This is only a guideline.  In our operation years with this program we feel that we have not been taken advantage of.  It does not seem greedy if Mom’s wish for a toaster, pots and pans or wish for a young boy for new boots (he wears his moms.)    These are real wishes and we are receiving more and more each year.  A welfare cheque does not cover any more than basic needs.

Once the profile is made up Rev. Ted and myself only know the family name.  A number is assigned to the family.  I then assign the families to organizations, companies, individuals, who want to sponsor a family.  It is most important that we keep this confidentiality.  A sponsor receives a numbered profile for a family with no name, address or telephone number appearing.

We do not have sufficient sponsor to date to cover 75 families so I divide families for people who can only buy for 1 or 2 family members.

Rev. Ted and I have a great support- he obtains the families and prepares the profiles.  I obtain sponsors and donations, assign the families to sponsors and shop for the families not sponsored with the monetary donations.

Most years we have to shop for 20-25 families- last year over 30. Due to lack of sponsors monetary donations are very important.  These donations come from members of our congregation, ACW, Christmas Dance, community service organizations, companies and interested individuals throughout the Township.  It is a little difficult to believe that we still average $100.00 per family, which could include new coats, bedding, etc.  We love a  bargain, BUT we also receive a new sweater, child’s P.J.’s etc. Gift items from people who can only buy one item.  This is a big help to the budget.

We set a target cut off date for all Christmas boxes to be dropped off at the church hall.  You may remember coming  to the church mid December and seeing them all lined up in the hall.  It is mind boggling that through the generosity of people in Brock Township we can achieve this.

The Ranger girls busy wrapping

The gifts for those families we have had to buy for have been since 1992 wrapped by Sylvia Oldenziel and her group of Ranger girls, their parents, my neighbors and her family (since 1993) and members of St Paul’s.  In order top continue confidentiality if a family has a child the same age or close to one of the Ranger wrappers we give these items to other wrappers.

After all the boxes are ready for under the tree they are delivered to the homes on certain days.  We receive directions from some families to deliver at a time when the children won’t be home- these gifts will be all that is under the tree this year.

This  program is considered so necessary and rewarding that we have received the respect and support of local clergy.  The clergy plus Santa’s assigned elves deliver all gift boxes.  It is gratifying to note that all clergy feel we are reaching out to the families that really need and are deserving  of this program we offer.

We try to see that all children receive a warm outfit (fleecy pants and tops etc.) and pajamas.  We also feel mom and dads deserve a little something also- flannel shirt, hat gloves, warm clothes, pots and pans, etc.  The profile of the family helps us to decide the needs.

We receive many contributions of knitwear items- baby outfits, hats, mitts that help greatly in having new items for under the tree.  Again we also receive new items to be added to our shopping list, a nightgown that was too small for you, towels that do not suit your colors scheme-get the message.

If you feel you can sponsor a whole family, it will be very much appreciated.  If you feel you would like to buy for 1 or 2 persons (children) it would be very much appreciated.  If you feel you would like to give a monetary donation it will be very much appreciated.

Some rambling about the program:

Most sponsors return year after year.  Some make it a family Christmas project.  Many sponsors recommend the program to friends, fellow workers, etc.

Do we have repeat families?  Sometimes- but very few.  I made this observation to a member of Brock Council and he said the average welfare family collects for 3-6 months.  Some of these repeats apologize for having to return to the programe due to lack of a job, illness.  These families are grateful to us.

Do they take advantage of us?  NO.  We can’t guarantee we do not have  a lemon among the list of families, but this is life.  We cannot penalize all because of one.  Our clergy feel we are reaching out to the needy and they visit each of the homes.

The Santa & Mrs. Claus of St. Paul's Christmas Wish Program Rev. Ted McCollum and Norma Green

There are 22 classrooms from Brock High school who sponsor families in the Christmas Wish.  They have been doing this the last three years.  It is truly a great complement to our young people that they deliver pleasure from helping others. ( I might add Mrs. Probst guidance and myself monitor the family profiles we give to the classrooms, only children under five and definitely no peers.)

We also receive many sponsors from the elementary public schools.

The offers of help with this program coming from our congregation, people in organizations, and concerned persons is overwhelming.  We are not able to use all these offers, but when the need arises we will definitely avail ourselves to your offers and in the mean time please accept our heartful Thanks.

In closing I would like to add that Allan assists Rev. Ted and myself throughout this whole operation.  Thanks Al for putting up with total chaos in our house collecting boxes etc.

I know Rev. Ted and myself feel this is a wonderful and rewarding outreach program St Paul’s contributes to our Brock Township Community.  Our success is echoed by the support we receive back from the communities.

Many thanks to Norma Green for her great work in the Christmas Wish Program

and providing us the insight on the Program.

this page revised: 10 Nov 2005