Love In the Name of Christ

Printer-friendly version

One of Love INC's networking churches has provided three large classrooms that serve as a "Gift Closet" for families in the Love INC "Loving Help Budget Program". All items placed in the "Gift Closet" are NEW and most still have the price tags on them. The new gifts are marked down approximately 80% from the original purchase price. Families and individuals that attend the "Loving Help Budget Program" and work faithfully with a Budget Counselor/Mentor earn the privilege of shopping for gifts at the "Gift Closet". Clients earn vouchers as rewards for their accountability and use those vouchers to shop. This ministry helps those in need to plan ahead and to gain the self-esteem that comes from earning their own items rather than receiving handouts. The following are suggested gift items, but feel free to be creative.

• Early Childhood: Duplo blocks, Little Tikes toys®, Fisher Price toys®, baby dolls, doll furniture, strollers, carts, clothes, play kitchen toys, alphabet/number toys and blocks, crib activity sets, waffle blocks, toddler books, plastic trucks, games, stuffed animals, and other age appropriate materials.

• Elementary Ages: Craft/art kits, art books, markers, paints, art paper, pencils, board games, Etch-a-Sketch®, Magna Doodle®, puzzles, remote control cars, model kits, beginner Bible, Bible story books, sports equipment, Lego® sets, Nerf® toys, dolls, doll clothes, doll house, plastic sleds or sledding tubes, and other age appropriate materials.

• Teenager: Walkman®, clock radios, watches, perfume/cologne, back packs, purses/wallets, cameras, board games, calculators, sports equipment, air pumps and needles, hair barrettes and scrunchies, make-up, nail polish, lotions, and other age appropriate materials.

• All Age Levels: Sweatshirts, tee shirts, socks, underwear, and other age appropriate clothing.

Note: Collections For The Gift Closet Are Particularly Needed During The Months Of September, October, And November. The Holidays Come So Fast And These Are The Times When The Gift Closet Is Most Active.

IDEA! -- YOUR CHURCH COULD CONSTRUCT A LARGE PAPER TURKEY WITH DOZENS OF TAIL FEATHERS. THESE TAIL FEATHERS WOULD HAVE ITEMS THAT COULD BE PURCHASED WRITTEN ON THEM. AN INDIVIDUAL COULD PICK A TAIL FEATHER, PURCHASE THAT ITEM, AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO THE CHURCH WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME.

IDEA! -- SOME GROUPS CHOOSE TO DO THEIR GIFT CLOSET DRIVE BY PUTTING UP A CHRISTMAS TREE AND HANGING PAPER ORNAMENTS ON THE TREE. EACH ORNAMENT HAS DIFFERENT GIFT ITEMS LISTED ON THEM. EACH PERSON PICKS AN ORNAMENT AND PURCHASES THE GIFT LISTED ON IT. THEY THEN BRING THE GIFT TO THE CHURCH WITHIN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME.

Please contact the Love INC office when your "Gift Drive" is completed and you will be advised as to the best place to deliver your collected items.