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Christmas Baskets
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A Beloved Advent Tradition
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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! This year the need is greater than ever with so many families suffering under threat of eviction and food uncertainty.
How Can You Get Involved?
We’ll have to forgo traditional gatherings this year, instead many of our requests will focus on ways to help financially, as the needs are great. This change saddens us, as we’ll miss the celebration, ritual, and traditions we’ve created around this giving that bring us together as community.
Again this year there will be no trees filled with names to pick. If you'd like to sponsor a family or individual, please email Xmasbasket@gmail.com. If you choose to sponsor a family, you'll receive separate instructions. Otherwise, we’re giving gift cards this year, we simply have no room to collect and store presents or food.
Please, no brown paper packages tied up with string, instead buy gift cards to affordable vendors like Target, WalMart, Academy, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, or similar in denominations of $25 to $50! Our limit for individual gifts is $50 per family member/individual. See our plan below for all the details.
Mark your calendars with these important Christmas Basket dates:-
Now: (1) Contribute to St. Austin’s Venmo for HEB (in $10 or $25 denominations) and other gift cards. Mark your contribution for Christmas Baskets and/or (2) Volunteer to adopt an entire family please contact: Xmasbasket@gmail.com by December 5th.
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Thanksgiving Eve Mass, Wednesday, November 24, 6 p.m.: Your first opportunity to bring gift cards for this communal act of generosity
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Drop Off Days, Sunday, December 5 and 12, 8 a.m. - Noon: Drive thru to drop off Gift Cards and Stocking Stuffers
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Delivery Day Saturday, December 18 at 9:00 am: Meet at the parking garage
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Our Plan - With Lessons Learned from Last Year
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Our tradition
We’ll joyfully deliver
Here’s what to do to help
Food
HEB Gifts cards in denominations of $10 and $25
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Bring your gifts of HEB cards to the Thanksgiving Liturgy (Wednesday evening, November 24)
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Mail or deliver to church, noting “SVdP” on the envelope
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Donate directly to our parish VENMO account. Please specify “Christmas Baskets” in the “for” section. Any and all amounts are welcome. We’ll buy cards with these donations. Instructions for donations are on the website at GIVE > Treasure.
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Mail a check to St. Austin Catholic Parish, noting Christmas Baskets in Memo
Please Note: We can’t receive food this year – see the alternative at Bread below.
Gifts
Gift Cards for Target, WalMart,
Academy, Dollar General, Dollar Tree and similar affordable vendors in denominations of $25 or $50Bring your gift cards to the church office on Drop Off Days (Sunday, December 5 & 12), or to the church office by Tuesday, December 14th.
Sign up to sponsor a family or individual by contacting Xmasbasket@gmail.com. Deadline for sponsoring an entire family is Friday, December 5. If you sponsor an entire family, you'll recive more instructions on sign-up.
Please Note: We have NO SPACE in which to store gifts bought for individuals. Instead, please donate gift cards to places where families and individuals can shop for themselves.Stockings Stuffed with joy
Stockings stuffed with joy! With our parish school children we’re collecting merry treats
Bring your treats to the Drop Off Day or Church office by December 5 or to the Christmas Bazaar, or to one of the Drop-Off Days on December 5 or 12.
What to buy: crayons, markers, coloring books, Play-Doh, playing cards, Hot Wheels, boxes of candy canes, small hand-sanitizers, and girlie things (hair accessories, lip gloss, or nail polish)Gifts for the Elderly & Differently Abled
Each person will receive the same gifts ~ a Fair Trade chocolate bar, as well as the
traditional gift of an HEB cardWe’d welcome your help with:
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$25.00 HEB cards may be donated directly or by donating through Venmo. (see above)
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Donations to pay for the chocolates we’ve ordered
Home Baked Bread
Gifts of food or donations to
Micah 6Micah 6 will be glad to take your donation for their weekly Food Pantry. Visit Micah 6.
Please Note: We can’t receive food this year.Delivery Day
We’ll deliver joy 2021 style – our payload will be gifts (of gift cards) to
families being sponsored by St. Austin’s
** There may be some gifts for families contacted and shopped for by sponsorsSaturday, December 18, at
9:00 a.m.
Be among the cheerful drivers making deliveries from a safe distance. This is great family activity, even in this crazy time of Covid. We can do this safely!-
Drivers will drive thru parking garage, first level, proceeding from the San Antonio entrance and departing through the alley.
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Packages will be much smaller than usual**, since we are not delivering food or packages. Stockings will be included for families with children.
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Face masks are requested. (we'll stay alert to current health guidelines)
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We’ll safely distance as we load you up for delivery.
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