Christmas Baskets

The Christmas Basket Program is a Holy Family tradition! Every year, Holy Family partners with GraceWorks to provide 200+ families in need with gifts and a food basket for Christmas. The 2024 Holy Family Christmas Basket Program, presented by the Men's Club, will take place during the week of December 9 — 14. With several steps in the process to make this program happen, there is a way for everyone to get involved.

 

Please note that this year will be similar to last year's program:

  • Food baskets only will be prepared at the church this year. It is anticipated that GraceWorks will be giving us 200+ recipient families.
  • Gift donations will be handled differently as described below and there will be no gift-wrapping activities at the church.
  • Families wishing to deliver a food basket this year must sign up for a specific family and time slot for pickup on Saturday, December 14. Parishioners will not be purchasing gifts for the recipient family that they sign up for. The sign-up to deliver food baskets will not be ready until Sunday, December 8.
Donate Financially

We will be preparing food baskets for 200+ recipient families this year. Although the pandemic has subsided to some degree and many people are vaccinated, there is still a great need among the recipient families we will be serving. We ask that all parish families consider a financial contribution ($35 to $40 per family) to help fund the program as your situation allows.

An appeal will be made during all Masses on the weekend of November 30 and December 1. Online contributions for the Christmas Basket program are encouraged, and this option is available below. Check and cash donations will also be collected after all Masses following the appeal. We thank you in advance for your support of Christmas basket program.

Click here to donate online.

Donate Gifts/Toys for the Manger

GraceWorks surveyed the recipient families this year. There was an overwhelming response for food assistance. Additionally, the parents would prefer to select gifts at the Manger where they can choose specific gifts for their children. Although the response of Holy Family parishioners over the past 2 years has been incredible, you can understand that there is a certain amount of pride and dignity in buying gifts for your own children. As a result, we are asking parishioners to purchase gifts to be donated to the Manger program rather than buying gifts for adopted families. Gifts for children of all ages and especially teenagers are needed.

Beginning November 15, parishioners can bring the unwrapped gifts they purchase to the church and place them in collection bins located in the Narthex. Gift donations will be accepted through December 6.

Click here for a suggested gift list.

Click here to purchase gifts for the Manger through Amazon.

12/11: Volunteer at the Manger

Holy Family has committed to staffing the Manger on Wednesday, December 11, at Franklin First United Methodist Church. There are multiple timeslots throughout the day with various activities to support the Manger. Volunteer activities will include parking lot attendants, welcoming recipient families, providing assistance during the gift buying process, sorting and stocking gifts, gift wrapping, etc. This will be another wonderful opportunity to interact with recipient families.

Click HERE to sign up.

12/12: Set up Food Baskets

On Thursday morning of December 12, the Men's Club will need volunteers to help unload the food trucks, stage the food supplies, and set up the 200+ food baskets in the Parish Hall.

Click HERE to sign up.

12/13: Pack Food Baskets

On Friday evening of December 13, the Men's Club will need volunteers to pack the 200+ food baskets in the Parish Hall. Multiple time slots will be available to limit the number of participants at any one time.

Click HERE to sign up.

12/14: Load Food Baskets

On Saturday morning of December 14, the Men's Club will need volunteers to unload the truck    (5:45–7:30 am) and load the food baskets into parishioners' cars (7:30–10 am).

Click HERE to sign up.

12/14: Deliver Food Baskets

This year, it is required to sign up for a specific family to deliver a food basket to on Saturday, December 14. Parishioners will not be buying gifts for their recipient family or families.

The signup link will include the Family Number,  Street, City, Zip code, Family Size, and Comments.
We do not have a breakdown by adults/children anymore.  Just total family size.

200+ parishioners will be needed on Saturday morning, December 14, to deliver food baskets to recipient families. The Men's Club will make the process as smooth and safe as possible. There will NOT be a short prayer service in the Worship Center. Parishioners arriving to pick up and deliver food baskets will be queued up in the parking lot and then directed to the Parish Hall where their vehicles will be loaded by volunteers. Staggered arrival times will be used to avoid long wait times

Sign-up is NOW AVAILABLE:  Click HERE

To Volunteers who signed up to delivery the Christmas Baskets to our neighbors:
First, Thank you!  
This is the largest number of volunteer delivery drivers we have ever had signed up.  We really appreciate each and every one of you.
Second, in an attempt to make this as smooth as possible and enjoyable for you, we will slot Drivers by Family Numbers (see below).  We have 10-12 families with special requests and those have been communicated to the delivery drivers.  
Instructions: As you arrive at church, please come through the first entrance to the right.  As you get to the top of the hill, a Member of the Men's club will be there to direct you to Lane 1 or Lane 2.  Stay in your lane please.  They will have a list of the callers assigned by Family Number.  Please Remember to Print Out/Write your Family Number and place this in your windshield.  Next you will drive around the back of the church.  The callers will meet you in the parking lot and distribute your family sheet with gift cards and any special instructions.  Then you will pull forward down to the Parish Hall portico.  Members of the Men's Club and Volunteers will load your car for you with the Christmas Baskets.  
Then you will depart the church from the exit (this will be one way on Saturday morning).  You will make the delivery.  All of the families have been called or visited and are expecting you.  They are expecting us from 8:30 am to 11:00 am.  
When you deliver the boxes, please tear off the gift card and hand this to the adult.  DO NOT GIVE THEM THE FAMILY THE SHEET WITH THEIR INFORMATION.  Please discard this after you make the delivery.  
The schedule is as follows:
8:00 am Family Numbers 1-75
8:30 am Families 76-125
9:00 am Families 126-200
9:30 am Families 201-250
Several families need early deliveries due to work schedules.  We ask that these families come at 7:50 am so we can get you on your way early (These families are noted in the comments).  Other families have requested a later delivery and you may come at 9:30 am.  
Our goal is to get everyone on their way by 10:00 am.  If you need to come at a different time between 8-10 am, feel free to come at a time convenient to you and your family as long as it is between 8-10 am.  
If for some reason you can not find the family or they are not at home, please make every effort to reach the family via call/text/email (information is on the sheets).  Check with a neighbor, etc.  if you have exhausted all means to make the delivery, please return the Christmas Basket, Gift Cards, and Family Sheet to the Parish Hall at the Church.  Men's Club Members will be there to assist you.
Please call Tod Fetherling at 615-500-3497 if you require any assistance on Saturday.

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Please note, Holy Family does not coordinate who receives a Christmas Basket. If you would like to receive a Christmas basket, contact GraceWorks Ministries at 615.794.9055 or [email protected].

Still have questions? Fill out the form below, and we'll get back to you.