Sidewalk Sunday SchoolChristmas Project 2012

Sidewalk children - 2011

In 2011 over 1,500 children received Christmas gift bags, gift cards or stuffed animals from 30 churches. United Methodist Women also donated items and filled bags at their Annual Conference Meeting/Celebration.

United Methodist Women filling bags at their annual meeting.

With the possibility of additional Sidewalk sites this year, our goal for 2012 is to surpass the number of gifts that were donated in 2011.

We need well-filled Christmas gift bags for children ages 3 to 12.

Please note : this year we will not be asking for gift bags for teens. Instead, we will be giving each teen a $20 gift card from stores such as Walmart or Target.

If filling bags for a teen has been your passion, please consider donating a $20 gift card this year instead. We do have two churches who give nothing but gift cards; however we will still need a few more.

We will also be looking for a few NEW, medium sized stuffed animals to give to the toddlers who come to Sidewalk Sunday School with their siblings.

Notice the 12 inch ruler in the picture.

Guidelines for purchasing and filling bags have been formed over the years to make the process easier. Your help in following them is appreciated.

Thank you!

• Please use paper or cloth bags that measure no smaller than 8 X 10 and no larger than 10 X 13. The width of bags will vary according to manufacture. They will be any where from 3 to 5 inches wide. If we receive bags larger than requested, we will split the contents up into the appropriate size bags.

• Use bags that are decorated for Christmas or are plain red or green. Decorated bags for birthdays or other holidays are not appropriate.

Notice the 12 inch ruler in the picture. 10 X 13 bags are the largest permitted. No smaller than 8 by 10 either, please.

•Use a gift tag that is tied on to the bag indicating the gender and age of the child the bag is intended for.

•Please do not staple, glue or tape tags to the bags.

•Make sure that the gifts in the bag match the gender and age that is indicated on the tag.

•Do not wrap the gifts in the bags. Tissue paper on top of the gifts is okay.

•Please do not include gift cards in the bags along with gifts.

•Items should not be attached to the outside of the bags. This makes the bags more difficult to transport.

•Please use the following age categories when filling and tagging the bags.

3 – 4 5 – 8 9 – 12

•Also indicate if the bag is for a girl or boy.

•Reminder – teens will get $20 worth of gift cards this year instead of bags.

•Fill the bags well with NEW and UNBROKEN items with the price tags removed.

•Little trinket type toys are not appropriate unless accompanied by larger, better quality items. •When filling bags for the 3 & 4 year olds, please do not give anything that is small enough they could choke on, including hard candy.

•Please do not include chocolate candy or items with peanuts.

• These are Christmas bags - Halloween, Easter or Valentine’s Day candy is not appropriate!

•Items such as toothpaste and regular tooth brushes should not be given. Nor should the bags include trial/hotel size lotions, shampoos, etc. This is Christmas – the children deserve fun things.

•Do not include items such as knives or razors.

•If you are giving a gift that needs a companion, please give both items.

For example- a coloring book needs crayons, a water color book needs a brush, a flashlight or watch needs batteries.

Often the children do not have the money to buy the items they need to be able to use those gifts.

SUGGESTED GIFT ITEMS FOR 4 TO 12 YEAR OLDS PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL THE ITEMS ARE AGE APPROPRIATE

crayons & coloring books anything art relatedmarkers simple craft kitssmall toys comic books, story bookssports cards – boys sports memorabiliaballs small hand held gamesgames puzzlesdolls – girls Beanie babiesactivity books story booksmatch box cars – boys Nerf toysChristmas pens/pencils Christmas socksjacks, marbles jump ropeshair items Christian items (cross, jewelry, books)small stuffed animals jewelry

Anything fun that a child would like!!

We realize that the contents can’t be the same in all the bags, but we can make them all

full and appropriate.

Your understanding and help is appreciated.

These guidelines are not meant to discourage anyone from filling bags. They are meant to prevent additional work for the volunteers and to keep the children from being disappointed.

If your church would like to help this year, please contact, Bev Secrist at 480-345-9420 or email: bevsecrist@cox.net

You may still participate on your own even if your church isn’t participating. Please contact Bev at the above number or email.

A list of the guidelines is available in document form and it is suggested that all those who plan to fill read them carefully. Contact Bev (see above) for a copy.

November 2nd is the last date for you or your church to make a commitment as to the number of bags, stuffed animals and/or gift cards that will be provided. Commitments before this date are most welcome and encouraged.

Please consider this commitment carefully and promise only what you think you can actually provide.

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November 2012

Churches in the North and South Districts will have a location in their districts that will receive their gifts. Location, date, and contact person to be announced. Contact Bev Secrist at 480-345-9420 or bevsecrist@cox.net for more information.

Gifts from churches in the Central East and Central West Districts will be collected at the Methodist Conference Center in Phoenix.

Central East and Central West Districts will need to deliver their gifts on Monday, December 3rd between 9:30 AM and 3 PM. to the Methodist Conference Center, 1550 E. Meadowbrook, Phoenix.

Please note – this is the ONLY time that we can accept the gifts at the Conference Center.

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Reminders

Space is limited at the Conference Center in Phoenix – thus there is no place to store items ahead of time. Please take this into consideration when you make a commitment and delivery arrangements.

North and South District Churches will be advised at a later time when and where they can deliver their gifts.

Volunteers deliver bags to the collection points.

Volunteers help inspect, sort, and count bags to make

them ready for pick up by the site directors or site volunteers.

Volunteers from Sidewalk sites come to pick up gifts.

Volunteers help with the

distribution of the gifts.

Thank you so much to all who helped in 2011…..

.…and to all who will be helping in 2012….

Thank you……

• to the contact person at each church who coordinates their church’s gift giving• to those who fill bags, donate gift cards and stuffed animals• to those who deliver the items on the appropriate day• to those volunteers who help inspect, count, and sort all of the bags • to those volunteers who pick up the gifts needed for each site• to the volunteers at each site who help distribute the gifts to the children

Thank you from

These pictures used by permission.

the children!!

THE END!