Christmas Bag Project 2016

Sidewalk Sunday School Christmas

Project 2016…

…with a look back at 2015

In 2015, twenty four (24) United Methodist churches joined together to donate:

• 1,168 filled gift bags• 221 gift cards• numerous stuffed animals, and a lot of miscellaneous toys

The items went to 14 sites.

2015 Smiles

Meleni remarked: “It’s really fun (Sidewalk Sunday School) and they make fun stuff, take care of you and feed you. The gift bags mean that they really care about me and want me to have lots of fun.”

When asked about the gift bag she would receive, a young girl named Jocelyn said, “I am thankful for what I get and what they mean to me. I like coming to Sidewalk Sunday School”.

“Look Mama! I got Play Doh”, one young child was heard to exclaim with a big smile on her face. Whether it is Play Doh or some other toy, it’s the smiles and excitement on the children’s faces that makes the Sidewalk Christmas Project worthwhile.

Fabrice: Awesome!

TaeShawn: I like getting toys for Christmas.

Out of the mouths of babes………………

Mary Santibanez and her three children, plus one additional Sidewalk child.

Mary’s children attend Sidewalk Sunday School. Mary helps the Sidewalk staff, and her husband has even helped to keep the Sidewalk truck running.

More Sidewalk smiles

Sidewalk “kids” writing on cupcakes - a letter to stand for some act of kindness they plan to carry out.

To make the smiles……………

It takes volunteers who sort and check the bags………

… and volunteers or Site Directors who pick up the bags and deliver them to the sites…………..

… and volunteers who help distribute the bags.

The results: Smiles on many children’s faces and smiles on those who helped.

It also takes YOU and/or your group, whether it be your Sunday School class, your mission committee, United Methodist Women or another group, to fill the bags for over 1,100 children and their families who attend Sidewalk Sunday School.

The next several slides will give the details for the Christmas Project 2016.

Christmas 2016

Create a smile………

……fill a gift bag.

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

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.

If oversized bags are received we will re-distribute the items into appropriate size bags.

Use these size bags only, please…

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.

If you have participated in the Christmas Project prior to 2015, please note these were the changes made in 2015.

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

Everyone is 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 instead of bags.

Age Categories

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 related

markers small toys comic books, story books

cards game cards games small hand held games

puzzles dolls balls

activity books match box cars Beanie babies

Christmas pens/pencils Christmas socks jacks, marbles

jump ropes hair items bubbles

Nerf toys sports memorabilia small stuffed animals

sports 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.

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

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

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.

Create a smile…..…..make a commitment.

Commitment Date

Churches and individuals are asked to make their commitment to fill

bags and donate gift cards by October 24, 2016. Commitments prior to that date are encourage and appreciated.

Please contact Bev Secrist at [email protected] 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 28 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 24, 2016

Delivery date in Phoenix – November 28, 2016 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

• There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a happy and smiling child. A child's smile is worth more than all the money in the world. -Lionel Messi

• Be the reason someone smiles today. -Unknown

• The catch phrase for the day is 'Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.‘ -Harvey Ball

• A child's smile is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. - Unknown

• There’s nothing more touching than putting a smile on a kid's face when you can. - Emma Roberts

• A child's smile is one of life's greatest blessings. -Unknown

• A smile from a child is packaged sunshine and rainbows. -Unknown

Thank you to all who made 2015

Christmas smiles,and to all who will

help in 2016.

Individual pictures taken with permission.

For more information on the Christmas Project contact Bev Secrist at [email protected]

The end!