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Kelly
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| Posted: Nov 08 2007 at 11:49am | IP Logged
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Hi, everyone. I’m Daniel, the ds of Kelly in FL. This year I’m supervising the Navajo Christmas box project for my mom. I thought I'd let you know about a neat service project we’ve been doing for the past five years for the Vanderwagon, New Mexico missions run by St. Patrick’s Catholic Church there, serving the poorest of the poor in our very own country. This is a really great Christmas project that a lot of you all have helped with in the past, so for you “veterans” as well as new families, here’s the information.
As a little background, the way this all started was that my family and I passed one of their missions when we were traveling in New Mexico. My mom called them because we were searching for a Christmas project that would serve the needy at Christmas, some project that wouldn't end up being used as a lure to get Catholic needy into Protestant churches (which is often the case with many of the Protestant programs, worthy though they are). Anyway, it turned out there were THREE missions in this area around Vanderwagon, and they all operate out of the one main church in Vanderwagon, St. Patrick's. Over the years my mother has spoken with the priest in charge as well as various sisters and can vouch for their being a real-and orthodox- presence in the missionary field---and they really can use our help. We have spoken to the nun in charge, Sr. Kristine, a couple of times this year already and she is really excited to have our help once again. Last year we were the only help they had, but by ourselves we Catholic homeschoolers provided for something like 250+ kids and elderly. They really appreciated it!
St. Patrick’s will be doing three different parties this year for Christmas: one for the elderly (usually around the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe); another for children only; and a last one for families (usually that's the one closest to Christmas). For the seniors, they are collecting new, bright-colored blankets, hot chocolate mixes, teas, instant coffees and oatmeals, warm socks, even coats (she said they always accept gently-used coats to distribute as necessary, but for Christmas they are trying to stick to something bright and new for each person). Also, envelopes with Walmart cards are VERY welcome---sent straight to St. Patricks, and the sisters can use them to fill in the gaps (with canned milk, foodstuffs, shoes, etc.) and that way we don't waste money on postage. Anything you can send along these lines, as well as rosaries and prayer cards, is very much appreciated.
As for the children and families, they are also collecting Christmas boxes/bags for them. My family and I put together gift bags with little gifts and hygiene items, as well as rosaries, beanie babies, warm socks, warm stocking caps, undershirts and sweatshirts, matchbox cars, that sort of thing. Apparently the instant hot chocolate packets were big crowd-pleasers (though they discourage sending candy-lots of diabetes out there). Sister told Mom that the bulk of the children are ages 5 to 13, but they also have younger and older children. The teenagers are the hardest ones to provide for. What our family did was each of us prepared a bag for a child our age and gender, we got to pick out things to put into it, choosing the kind of goodies that WE would like to get. This turned out to be pretty fun.
In terms of logistics, we found the easiest way to go about doing this is to get plastic gift bags from Walmart (we found them for 44 cents each) OR gift bags from the dollar store OR reuse ones you have. You can bag your presents, but please don't wrap them up individually. You can also use shoeboxes (very nice if you can wrap up the top and bottom of the box in such a way that it can be opened and closed easily, or, as an alternative, use pre-decorated Christmas boxes), but again, please don't wrap up what’s inside because the sisters may have to re-shuffle the items, redistribute the wealth a little more, or customize the boxes depending on the recipient. On the outside of the gift bag or shoebox, please affix the following information:
BOY GIRL:
3-4 years
5-6 years
7-8 years
9-10 years
11-12 years
13-14 years
15-16-17 years
SR.CITIZEN:
GENERAL MALE FEMALE
We usually print this info on a piece of paper, enlarge it so it's very visible, and then simply highlight the age and gender of the targeted recipient, then staple it or tape it securely (and VISIBLY) on the box or bag. Apparently this method works really well. Also, if you are interested, you can always do a little package for mothers or fathers and label appropriately. One year we sent several bags for New Mothers, with slippers and warm socks, decaf tea and lotion---that sort of thing. As you can see, there are MANY needs-you can get creative with this project!
You can mail your boxes, bags, contributions or Walmart cards directly :-) NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 7th (if possible!) to:
Missionaries of Charity
547D Cousin Road
Vanderwagon, New Mexico 87326
ph. 505/778-5740
Last but not least, the folks at St. Patrick’s also really, really appreciate any prayers you can send their way. They have a tough job going out there.
If you have any questions or comments about anything that has to do with this project, please don’t hesitate to email me. My address is… daniel9285568@aol.com
Thanks again for your help,
-Daniel Beck
PS When you mail your own packages, be sure you include your name and address on a card in your box, identifying yourselves as Catholic homeschoolers. The sisters try to send thankyou notes and prayer cards to everyone. They will not send you requests for money or solitications---we’ve been doing this for five years now and we have never received a single solicitation from them. They are simply very, very grateful for our help.
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8kids4me
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| Posted: Nov 08 2007 at 3:07pm | IP Logged
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Thank you! My son in law is Navajo, his parents were both adopted off the reservation in the 50's. Russell and his mom(his dad died a few years ago), and his sisters go in together every year on a big gift for the reservation. Anyway, I thank you for wishing to help out those on the reservation, may God bless your efforts!
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Cindy B, mama to 8 great kids, and 5 grandbabies!
http://www.magnolialane.wordpress.com
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teachingmom
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| Posted: Nov 08 2007 at 10:54pm | IP Logged
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Thanks so much for posting this, Daniel! We sent a big box of packages a few years ago, but missed last year. I love the Navajo connection that this project provides because dh grew up on the Navajo reservation. (He's not Navajo, but his dad was a Catholic deacon working in parishes on the reservation.)
As Daniel, mentioned, we received a very nice hand-written thank you note from one of the Missionaries of Charity sisters too. I highly recommend this effort!
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Kelly
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| Posted: Dec 05 2007 at 1:44am | IP Logged
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Hey you all, I'm bumping this message up for Daniel (who is knee-deep in college applications, poor kid). As a brief reminder, the target date for mailings is this Friday, Dec. 7th. The first party the missionaries are having will take place on Dec. 16, and there are only three sisters handling it all, so any help you all can send will be GREATLY appreciated. New blankets for the seniors are also much sought after gifts (and their party is shortly after the 16th, but I forget the exact date).
You all have been so generous in the past-thank you, thank you. Apparently the numbers of needy keep growing out there-in 2002 we started with something like 50 recipients---last year the number was around 250. I like to think that the word is out that we Catholics take care of our people :-)
Thanks again and God bless you all for your efforts!
Kelly in FL (for Daniel in FL)
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Kelly
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| Posted: Dec 05 2007 at 1:46am | IP Logged
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P.S. And a special thank you to Cindy B. and Irene 
Kelly in FL
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Navajo Christmas box project
