Urban Missionaries Christmas Giving Program 2020
Tax deductible
Under the direction of Walter and Kathy Doyle, the Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope was established to help “the least, the last, and the left out” in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, and its surrounding area. Over the past 40 years of service to the community, Walter, Kathy, and their team have provided multiple programs to help those in need, including; The Little Store and Just New thrift shop, Immigration counseling, citizenship training, and low-income housing initiatives. However, one of their most compelling services has been the Christmas Giving Program, which provides gifts for children in need at Christmastime.
The Christmas Giving program started almost 40 years ago with an initiative to help four local families and over the years has expanded to provide gifts for almost fifteen hundred families in our immediate area. Traditionally, this has been a local endeavor with area churches providing “giving trees” for their members to select gifts to purchase for individual children. These gifts would then be collected, sorted, bagged, and distributed just in time for Christmas, by a large team of Urban Missionaries volunteers.
This year, we have a new challenge. The COVID 19 pandemic has led to a much larger pool of people in need, while our local churches have experienced a large drop in attendance. This means we may not have enough gifts for those who need them the most.
This Go Fund Me fund is focused on filling the gap between what our churches can provide this year, and our community needs, to make the Christmas Giving Program a success. We are hoping you decide to be a “Christmas Angel”. Your donation will be greatly appreciated by us and the families who reap the benefit of your gift. It might allow us to purchase a favorite toy or even a new winter jacket. We are grateful for any help you can provide and thank you!
Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year to you and yours from us and “the least, the last, and the left out” we have been blessed to serve!
The Christmas Giving program started almost 40 years ago with an initiative to help four local families and over the years has expanded to provide gifts for almost fifteen hundred families in our immediate area. Traditionally, this has been a local endeavor with area churches providing “giving trees” for their members to select gifts to purchase for individual children. These gifts would then be collected, sorted, bagged, and distributed just in time for Christmas, by a large team of Urban Missionaries volunteers.
This year, we have a new challenge. The COVID 19 pandemic has led to a much larger pool of people in need, while our local churches have experienced a large drop in attendance. This means we may not have enough gifts for those who need them the most.
This Go Fund Me fund is focused on filling the gap between what our churches can provide this year, and our community needs, to make the Christmas Giving Program a success. We are hoping you decide to be a “Christmas Angel”. Your donation will be greatly appreciated by us and the families who reap the benefit of your gift. It might allow us to purchase a favorite toy or even a new winter jacket. We are grateful for any help you can provide and thank you!
Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year to you and yours from us and “the least, the last, and the left out” we have been blessed to serve!
Fundraising team (3)
Walter Doyle
Organiser
Worcester, MA
Refugee Apostolate Inc (Urban Missionaries Of Our Lady)
Registered charity
Donations are typically 100% tax-deductible in the US.
Jeffrey Hall
Team member
Steve Shields
Team member
