Alternative Gift Giving

Today during morning services we learned of a couple of different ways we could give some different Christmas gifts this season. The first is the Backpack Program, which we continue to make a push for. Right now, we're about 55 packs short of our goal of 200. Each backpack costs $125 and goes to a child in Sioux Falls who otherwise would have no (or limited) food for the weekend. We heard from a counselor from Whittier Middle School describe this real need and learned that however many backpacks we sponsor at the end of the year that Hillcrest will match 1/2 that amount from our land funds. So, if we end up sponsoring 160 packs, Hillcrest will kick in 80 additional packs for a total of 240. If you're in the Sioux Falls area and interested in this opportunity, let me know.

We also heard of World Vision's gift catalog, which you can access here. This is a neat catalog which allows your gift giving to also meet real needs throughout the world. Last Christmas the pastoral staff pooled money we would have bought each other a gift with and instead bought a family a llama. This year my brother and I are going to do this instead of buying each other gifts. Wherever you're located, everyone can participate in this one. So consider some alternative gift-giving this Christmas.