May I be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas!

Last year was my first Christmas at Emmaus House. I was skeptical about the annual Christmas program which began planning in the summer, required dozens of volunteers and, before December 1st, had taken over every nook and corner of our campus for receiving, sorting and wrapping gifts.

After working with volunteers well into the evening of December 23 to get 1400 presents in place, I watched Christmas Eve morning as children stood in line with their parents--waiting for up to three hours--to receive a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The depth of need and the breadth of joy were deeply touching.

With great enthusiasm, I invite you to share this season of joy with the Emmaus House community.

One of the finest but less well known parts of Christmas at Emmaus House is the Christmas Family Partnership. If you can assemble a group to provide some of the essentials for a family this Christmas, you will discover a sense of satisfaction and connection to the wonderful mothers, dads, children and grandchildren we work with year ‘round. Last year, we were able to arrange 33 partnerships. This year, with your, help, we can do more!

Below you will find descriptions of all our Christmas ministries and suggestions for gifts. Every gift is welcomed. In a neighborhood where the median annual household income is $6,000, a $10 grocery gift card is a great blessing. Whatever your capacity to give in this blessed season, you will receive back ever so much more.

Thank you for your many wonderful gifts to Emmaus House.

Blessings on you and yours,

The Rev. Elizabeth Claiborne Jones

Director and Vicar of Emmaus House

Not having enough money to provide for the necessities of daily life is the reality of most families in our neighborhood. Many households include extended family members with four to eight children under one roof. Heads of households generally earn only minimum wage. Some have lost their jobs. Others are disabled or not able to meet the skill requirements of the present job market.

When you partner with a family for Christmas, you may provide the shoes, coats, food, cleaning supplies, bed linens and small appliances the particular family needs and cannot otherwise obtain. You can expect to spend from $75.00 to $100.00 per family member (plus groceries or gift cards if they need them for a Christmas meal). If you’d like to be a partner but can’t do so on your own, we’ll find another donor to pair you with. This may also be an opportunity for you to invite business associates, friends, neighbors, church members and others to join you.

How you partner is entirely up to you. You may write a check to Emmaus House and remain anonymous. You may meet the head of the household and give her/him gift cards to do their own shopping. You may want to drive and accompany them on a Christmas shopping trip. We can provide you with the family’s wish list—including sizes, color preferences, etc.—and you can enjoy the shopping experience yourself.

For more gift ideas, wrapping and delivery instructions, or up-to-date information about our greatest needs,
please contact Anne Rein at 404.917.9185 / a.rein@att.net or Mary Kay Kohles-Baker at 404.276.0014 / mkkb@att.net

Host a Christmas Wrapping Party!

Santa’s elves would love to have your help wrapping the gifts for children to be given on December 23rd. Gifts should be wrapped without ribbon, because they will be stacked. Gifts must also be labeled with our codes for gender and age. For instructions and labels please see the contact information below.

Deck the Halls – Please deliver by December 10

Please join us as we decorate the Emmaus House campus during the weekend before Christmas. We would love to receive flowers, garlands and four Christmas trees: one very tall (15 ft.) tree, two 10 ft. trees, and one small tree.

Secret Santa Shop for Children – Please deliver by Dec. 13

After the Emmaus House Chapel service, children visit the Secret Santa Shop to buy gifts for their parents and grandparents. All items are priced at 10 cents. Scarves, slippers, hankies, socks, soap, shampoo, cologne, shaving cream and razors, gloves, and billfolds all make great gifts. Durable items may be gently used.

Baskets for our Seniors – Please deliver by Dec. 13

Thirty seniors (25 women and 5 men) participate in our Senior Strollers Program year ‘round. At their annual Christmas luncheon we delight each person with a special gift basket. Fill a laundry basket, a wastebasket or any other reusable container with practical items, gift cards, and perhaps a Christmas goody. Suggested value is $50.

Grandparents’ Party Gifts – Please deliver by Dec. 13

Each of the 70 grandparents raising their grandchildren receives a small gift—a $10 Kroger gift card and a small candy stocking. The highlight of this festive event is the “raffle” for special gift baskets made especially for grandparents. Lotions, hand towels, slippers, house coats, soaps, cologne, gloves, warm hats, T-shirts/sweaters 2X or 3X, all make great gifts. About 12 of the invitees are grandfathers. Suggested value for gift baskets is $50.

Santa Visits Emmaus House!
Please deliver: Nov. 27 - Dec. 18. Call before you wrap!

Santa and Mrs. Claus will give presents to each of about 700 children between 8:00 a.m. and noon on the Saturday before Christmas. All kinds of practical gifts and toys for children are welcomed. (See gift suggestions on the following page.)

Group of Hope and Recovery – Please deliver by Dec. 13

Would your group enjoy providing a special celebration for our Group of Hope 12 step program? We would love for the men & women to have a holiday party and for each of the 10 members to receive a gift. Warm clothing (2X or 3X)—including long underwear—is especially appropriate. Gift cards are welcomed.

After-School Program – Please deliver by Dec. 3

12 children (Kindergarten to 5th Grade) participate in the Emmaus House after-school program. We would like to give each child a gift or gift certificate (we will take them shopping) and party items (including food) to celebrate the season.

Poverty Rights Office

We need warm winter clothing such as jackets and underwear (sizes 2X or 3X) hats, socks, gloves, and toiletries. This is a year ‘round ministry that seeks food donations—especially sandwiches which can be frozen—throughout the year.

Christmas Caroling – Thursday evening December 21

Meet at Emmaus House at dusk and join the staff, volunteers, neighbors, and children of all ages for an evening of caroling in the neighborhood followed by pizza and hot chocolate. All are welcome!

For more gift ideas, wrapping and delivery instructions, or up-to-date information about our greatest needs, please contact Anne Rein at 404.917.9185 / a.rein@att.net or Mary Kay Kohles-Baker at 404.276.0014 / mkkb@att.net

Infants

Blankets, sleepers, diapers, diaper wipes, baby lotion, powder, shampoo, drinking cups, educational toys and books, baby play clothing and snow suits. We suggest clothing for 8 months and older and items that are easily washed.

Toddlers, 1 - 2 years

For little girls, culturally sensitive dolls, tea sets, hair ribbons, and purses. For little boys, age-appropriate cars and trucks, soft footballs, and action figures. For either boys or girls, musical & educational toys, stuffed animals, Playmobil® toys, puzzles & games, back packs, art sets, building blocks, balls, crayons and coloring books, cute socks, mittens and warm hats, T-shirts, and other clothing, brush and comb sets, videos, and books.

Children, 3 - 5 years

For girls, culturally sensitive dolls, jewelry, purses, barrettes & hair accessories, dish/tea sets, jump ropes. For boys, Tonka trucks, car collections, and action figures. For boys or girls, basketballs, soccer balls, backpacks, duffel bags, sleeping bags, stuffed animals, art & craft and magic sets, child watches, side walk chalk, books, educational toys, Playmobil® toys, videos, socks, gloves and warm hats, T-shirts and other clothing .

Children, 6 - 8 years

For girls, culturally sensitive dolls, jewelry, purses, barrettes & hair accessories, dish/tea sets, jump rope. For boys, Tonka trucks, car collections, and action figures. For either boys or girls, sports equipment, backpacks, duffel bags, sleeping bags, stuffed animals, art & craft and magic sets, children’s watches, side walk chalk, science sets, soft blankets, books, educational toys and games, videos, socks, gloves and warm hats, T-shirts and other clothing.

9 years – 12 years

For Pre-Teen girls, portable CD players with batteries, science sets, jewelry, watches, arts & crafts supplies, slippers, radios with batteries, sports equipment, cute hats, stuffed animals, back packs, board games, educational items, CDs, soft blankets, sleeping bags, books and videos, socks, gloves, scarves, and warm hats, T-shirts, fleece jackets and sweaters, and other clothing.

For Pre-teen boys, portable CD players with batteries, basketballs, footballs, baseball gloves and ball, science sets, watches, arts & crafts supplies, radios with batteries, CDs, back packs, board games, educational items, hand held games with batteries, books and videos, socks, gloves and warm hats, T-shirts, fleece jackets and other clothing.

13 years – 16 years

For teen-aged girls, portable CD players with batteries, watches, jewelry, makeup kits, wide hair brush and comb sets, slippers, pajamas, soft blankets, sleeping bags, perfume, shoulder purses, sports equipment, backpacks, radios/clocks with batteries, books and videos, socks, gloves and warm hats, T-shirts and other clothing.

For teen-aged boys, portable CD with batteries, footballs, basketballs, baseball gloves, backpacks, radios/clocks with batteries, hand-held games, board games, playing cards, cologne, shaving items, nail clippers, sunglasses, crew/sports socks, gloves and warm hats, T-shirts and other clothing (size XL or 2X.)

For more gift ideas, wrapping and delivery instructions, or up-to-date information about our greatest needs, please contact Anne Rein at 404.917.9185 / a.rein@att.net or Mary Kay Kohles-Baker at 404.276.0014 / mkkb@att.net