EDWARDSVILLE, IL — Every year in December, Mission: St. Louis hosts Affordable Christmas events at several sites around the St. Louis area. The event empowers low-income families to provide a fun Christmas for their children.
On Saturday, Trailhead Church hosted more than thirty Edwardsville area families for Affordable Christmas at Newsong Fellowship in downtown Edwardsville. Members of Trailhead Church and other sponsors donated hundreds of brand new toys, clothes, and made cash donations (used to purchase gifts), which were then priced at approximately one-tenth of the original retail value.
Over fifty volunteers helped make the event possible by donating brand new clothes and toys, registering families, providing childcare, brewing coffee, cooking breakfast, wrapping gifts, and serving as personal shoppers. Childcare volunteers kept children occupied with games and other activites, so the only remaining task for parents and guardians was to show up and go Christmas shopping.
Woods Basement Systems' Digital Marketing Director, James E. Lord, his wife, and their church community group helped gift wrap hundreds of toys, games, and clothes.
Even more Affordable Christmas events are scheduled for this Saturday, December 10th, in Belleville, Hamilton Heights, Forest Park Southeast, and Peabody. Those still interested in serving are invited to fill out a volunteer form and check out the 2011 Affordable Christmas wishlist.
Anyone who knows a family living in the zip codes 63110, 63112, 63118, and 63139 that could really use a hand this Christmas is asked to submit their contact information, so Mission: St. Louis can invite them to Affordable Christmas. For more information about Affordable Christmas, contact Amy Bulgrien at Mission: St. Louis with any questions or visit MissionSTL.org.