Neighbourhood Celebration
For generations The Salvation Army has been given public trust and resources to deliver Christmas to homes in the community. Our Christmas outreach has often been reduced to handouts and vouchers in an attempt to supply the raw materials for celebration, but the tragedy is that even with the resources being supplied, many homes lack the capacity to celebrate. Traditions have been lost or never known. In many cities, the only dedicated community celebration space has become shopping malls, where people go to feel “Christmasey” but get trapped in the materialistic side of the season. The goal of Corps 614 in Toronto's Regent Park is to return healthy Christmas celebrations and traditions to the neighbourhood.
Last year the community and family services building was transformed into the Celebration Centre. The building was extravagantly decorated and live or recorded Christmas music was always playing. Anyone from the neighbourhood who walked in was welcomed with homemade cookies and apple cider or hot chocolate. “It's like the idyllic Christmas scene from the movies,” explained one member of the community. Volunteers helped children do crafts or decorate cookies. Comfortable couches with Christmas books were set up beside the Christmas tree. At different times there were Christmas sing-alongs and movies.
In the Sharing Depot, gifts (which are given by the community) are sorted so that individuals can come and pick out toys and presents for their family members. Parents choose one large and two small gifts for each child. Children choose gifts for their parents or caregivers. Single adults choose a gift for their partner or for themselves if they live alone.
“This system helps those in need maintain their self-respect as they come for assistance,” says Major Sandra Ryan, corps officer. “Parents know their children and have dignity when they can choose the gifts they want to give.”
Instead of food hampers and vouchers, all people needing Christmas help are invited to a special Christmas meal. Beginning in the first week of December, there are weekly Christmas meals of about 200 people each. These meals seek to combine the excitement of a large community event with the intimacy of a homestyle meal. The format is the First Nations model where two hosts set up their table as if in their home with a beautiful tablecloth, dishware, cutlery, centrepieces and table favours. Hosts usually come from Corps 614's partner churches and neighbourhood organizations. The hosts also bring the turkey ready to serve and dishes for vegetables, buns, drinks and desserts, which are prepared and supplied by volunteers. Six guests identified by the 614 ministry team are seated at each table and are served by the hosts who sit and share the meal with them. During the meal, they share the Christmas story and a discussion of Christmas traditions and memories or perhaps even a craft or game. Musical guests are invited to participate at the dinners and, of course, Santa Claus makes an appearance.
“Our hope is that, in time, people will be able to once again have these Christmas traditions in their homes,” says Major Ryan. “But in the meantime,” she continues, “it's nice to be able to celebrate them as a community.”
Powered-Up Giving
Is there anything worse than discovering you can't play with your new Christmas toy because it didn't come with batteries? Over the last six years, the Calgary Canucks Battery Drive has been collecting batteries to donate to The Salvation Army family Christmas assistance program.
“Batteries ensure that children can enjoy the gifts they receive right away,” says Don Phelps, coach of the Calgary Canucks junior 'A' hockey team. Don always brings team members to the toy warehouse to help pack toys, and one year some of them noticed that many of the items required batteries. When people donate gifts, they usually don't think of also donating the batteries. Don thought of this unique idea to help children at Christmas.
The family Christmas assistance program has been able to collect thousands of gifts for children and teens in the Calgary area and many of them have an electrical component. Children are learning in a digital world and require items that are current with the ever-growing computer industry. Batteries are essential to operate and wear out fast, so the cost can add up.
“For some families, purchasing batteries can be a costly venture, especially if they have more than one child to support,” says Captain Pamela Goodyear, divisional public relations and development secretary, Alberta and Northern Territories Division. “Low-income families are usually focused on basic needs rather than 'extras' like batteries. The battery drive was created to help alleviate the burdening expense of batteries for low-income families and allow a child to fully experience an inspirational and delightful Christmas.”
In 2009, to increase attendance at the game and in return collect more batteries, the Calgary Canucks challenged the women's Olympic hockey team to a game. Not only did the women show up the men that night, but they also went on to win Olympic gold a few weeks later.
The Salvation Army Glenmore Temple Band provided music before the game.
Joy in the Midst of Sadness
The Montreal Santa Claus parade is an exciting event where thousands of children come out to watch the floats and to get a glimpse of the man with the white beard and red suit. The Salvation Army wanted to make sure that kids who are in hospital would not be left out of this joyful experience.
Last November, The Salvation Army partnered with Montreal's Urgences Santé (Emergency and Medical Services) and The Montreal Children's Hospital to warm the hearts and hands of sick children and their families. Child patients of the hospital and their families were taken from the hospital to the parade site in ambulances and seated in reserved seating on stands set up for the parade. The Salvation Army provided blankets and hot chocolate to keep children warm as they enjoyed the dance of the elves, the songs of the fairies, and of course, Santa Claus. Those children who were too unwell to venture outside had their beds moved to the window in order to watch the parade from their hospital rooms.
After the parade, the children and their families were invited to a Christmas party at Alexis-Nihon Place. The Salvation Army decorated the room, served lunch and assisted Santa Claus in getting gifts for each of the children who would be in hospital over the Christmas period. “It was a very moving and emotional Saturday afternoon,” says Givette Volet, former divisional social services secretary in Quebec. “All of the children arrived at the party in wheelchairs and stretchers, and it was difficult to see families crying and know that for some of them, this would be their last Christmas together with their sick children. Despite the sadness, it was still wonderful to see the joy on the kids' faces as they enjoyed the parade and received their gifts from Santa.”
The Salvation Army also connects with Sainte Anne's Hospital for veterans to bring Christmas music during the holiday season.
A Christmas Just Like Home
“Christmas at Vancouver's Harbour Light is magical,” says Kecia Fossen, community resources manager and volunteer co-ordinator. “Here at Harbour Light, it is part of our daily routine to help others and give to others, but at Christmas the giving becomes a little more special. The whole community participates so that we can complete our mission of Heart to God and Hand to Man.”
“Christmas can be a very difficult time for a lot of people, but at Harbour Light I felt like I belonged somewhere,” explains Billy Smith, a former client now employed in a supervisory role at Harbour Light. “I was welcomed and felt a part of something. It is like being a part of a large family, where you are accepted unconditionally.”
For those living at Harbour Light during the Christmas season, decorations, music and stockings in each person's room help clients experience a meaningful Christmas.
Joyful Noise is a singing group made up of clients, former clients and, at times, staff from the Harbour Light Treatment Centre. Using music is a way to help clients heal and to try something new, moving them out of their comfort zones and building their self-esteem. Joyful Noise is very busy over the Christmas season, bringing joy to people in seniors' homes, churches, service clubs and special events. “It really brings the 'reason for the season' to all who participate,” says Jackie Franson, outreach and music department manager.
Every Christmas Day, Harbour Light hosts a dinner for the men, women and children from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside community. Approximately 2,000 people eat a turkey dinner and each person receives a bag filled with chocolate, an orange, a pair of socks and a candy cane.
“One hundred and fifty volunteers help us make this day a reality, and every year, we end up having a wait list of volunteers because so many people want to spend Christmas giving back to those in need,” says Fossen.
“Christmas gives me an opportunity to volunteer and to give back, thanking The Salvation Army for what they have done for me personally,” says a former client and current Harbour Light volunteer.
For the past 37 years, Dave Dorghy and his friends (who were teenagers when this all started) don red Santa hats and go Christmas carolling. Every December 23, the men go to restaurants, businesses and people's homes to raise money for the Harbour Light. The sing-along is a rowdy and festive door-to-door musical event that raised $22,654 last year. On Christmas Day, the money is presented to the Harbour Light staff and the group spends the rest of the day playing music for all of the guests as they enjoy their Christmas dinner.
One of the highlights of the Christmas season at Harbour Light is the Tzu-Chi Buddhist Foundation's annual gift day, where gifts are handed out to 750 people per year. The Tzu-Chi volunteers start off by making a vegetarian Taiwanese lunch for the food-line guests, and also put on a presentation complete with singing and dancing. Then they hand out gift bags filled with gloves, socks, toques, a warm jacket or sweater and toiletries to anyone currently using the food line or people in the stabilization, treatment and corrections programs. In the detox program, they distribute new bathrobes, pyjamas and toiletries. In the evening, the volunteers visit all four Salvation Army shelters to distribute warm winter coats, coffee and gift bags.
Making Spirits Bright
On December 3, The Salvation Army in Portage la Prairie, Man., will hold their 10th annual Jingle Bell Breakfast. “For most people in our community, the Jingle Bell Breakfast is the start of their Christmas season,” says Lieutenant Graciela Arkell, corps officer. “The people in Portage la Prairie look forward to being able to experience the Christmas spirit and to share it with others. It's an event our family looks forward to as well.”
People who come to the event enjoy a continental breakfast in exchange for a $5 donation and a non-perishable food item or unwrapped toy. All the proceeds go back to the community through The Salvation Army's Christmas hamper and toy distribution, as well as the food bank. Some people drop by during their morning coffee break and others stay for the entire morning. Last year approximately 300 people attended the Jingle Bell Breakfast.
Local businesses make donations and play an important role in The Salvation Army's efforts to help people who are in need.
The Jingle Bell Breakfast is a great event, not only because it raises funds and gathers food and toys, but because it builds community. The event unites the schools, businesses, dignitaries, volunteers and citizens of Portage la Prairie.
While those present enjoy a hot or cold beverage and delicious muffins and pastries, local school choirs, bands and other talented individuals and groups perform and provide great entertainment. Local radio station CFRY broadcasts the event live.
“We are amazed by the generosity that is shown among the people of this great city, as people unselfishly come together and make a great effort to provide a brighter Christmas for the children and families in our community,” says Lieutenant Jeff Arkell, corps officer. “This is one of the ways The Salvation Army in our community really is Giving Hope Today.”
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