Christmas Baskets

The Christmas Basket Project, a beloved Advent tradition in our parish, ministers to more than 200 households each year by providing food and gifts for Christmas. THIS YEAR, again, things will be different as we build for the future. Please read on for ways you can help – we encourage you to join us in generosity as you always do! Many of the families we are supporting this year are those served by our own St. Vincent de Paul Society or Thursday Outreach, as they struggle to keep their lights on and families fed. A joyful Christmas surprise underscores the message of all we do as a community to serve our neighbors in need!
 

How Can You Get Involved?
 

While space to store and organize food and gifts is limited, we know the space in your hearts is not. There are still many ways to help! While we have no trees filled with names to pick, the rituals and traditions we’ve created around this parish project bring us together as they always have, highlighting how creative and adaptable we are as a community.  Here are ways you can help:

• Sponsor a family: If you choose to sponsor a family, you will receive separate instructions, and much of what you do for your family is up to you. We are, however, asking that you sponsor the family “from soup to nuts”, providing gifts for each person in the household, HEB cards for food, and stocking stuffers. We also hope that you will deliver to your adopted family if possible.  Please email Xmasbasket@gmail.com with the (general) size of a family you would like to sponsor.  We will work to get you information as soon as possible - with a goal of Sunday, December 4. 

• Purchase gift cards: Gift cards to affordable vendors such as Target, Academy or similar places in denominations of $25 or $50 will be given to the families to purchase gifts for their children, along with the HEB cards for their Christmas dinner. Don’t worry - we also provide Christmas Stockings with smaller items so the family has something to open!

• VENMO/Cash/Check: Contribute to St. Austin’s for the purchase of HEB and other gift cards.  Be sure to mark your contribution for “Christmas Baskets” 

• Little Extras: For our 150 older adults living in Housing Authority and Project Transitions housing, we will provide little “extras”, such as lip balm, socks, and hand lotion. Please donate 2 oz. hand lotions, lip balm, and both men’s and women’s socks on our Drop Off Drive Thru days, December 4 and 11.
   

Mark your calendars with these important Christmas Basket dates:

• Now: Contribute to St. Austin’s Venmo for HEB and other gift cards. Mark your contribution for “Christmas Baskets” 

  • More about HEB gift cards - We'd prefer to receive $25 cards, but welcome donations in any amount. Please just be sure to mark the value of the card on the back with a Sharpie so we will know the value of each card. Bring your cards to the Thanksgiving Eve Mass, drop them off in the Collection Baskets at Mass, or bring or mail them to the parish office by December 15.
    Please mark the envelope Attention: CHRISTMAS BASKETS. 

• Now through December 8: Adopt an entire family - email: Xmasbasket@gmail.com

• Drive Thru Drop Off Days: Sundays, December 4 and 11, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. – Drive through the parking garage to drop off Gift Cards, Cash, Checks and items for our Senior baskets (socks, 2 oz. lotions and lip balm) 

• Delivery Day: Saturday, December 17, beginning at 9:00 a.m. – Meet at the Parking Garage to pick up gift bags to deliver to families and individuals in need