Christmas Giving Trees

By Bill Mahler

“We have been going through a very difficult time, and this helped me to remember that there really are good people in this world that want to lend a helping hand to someone in need. Someday, I hope to be in the position to help another family just like someone helped mine.” – Chantel, a client of Wellspring Lutheran Services

“I can’t afford beds so I called you guys. The boys were so excited for beds…. We went to the park, which they love, … and my youngest son said, ‘I just want to go home and lay on my bed.’” – Rachael (single mother of two boys), a client of Friends in Deed

“I love the idea of the Giving Tree. Because I love all things babies and children, I always pick a few tags that involve this age group. It has brought me such joy to shop and purchase something for a child that may be doing without a basic need. Last year I made a baby doll for a 3-year-old little girl. I then purchased a couple of requested outfits and matched them with the baby doll’s outfit. My heart was full of joy. For me, it was a wonderful way to start the Christmas Season! I like the idea that I don’t have to think about what they might need. It’s right on the tag.” – Bridget Wolk, a member at Living Water

As a way of sharing the joy of Christmas with families like Chantel’s and Rachael’s, all three St. Luke sites have been providing a Christmas Giving Tree for many years. They give all of us a chance to help families and individuals in need during this special time of the year.

At the same time, they enrich our appreciation for God’s greatest gift to all of us–His Son in the form of a helpless infant who grew up to be the Savior of the world. Whether you participate as an individual, like Bridget, or as a family, you will be blessed by taking one or more tags and bringing the indicated item(s) back to church for distribution by various agencies.

These families really need our help. Please pray that God has you pick the right tag(s) this year. Remember what II Corinthians says: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Here are the details for the three sites:

Living Water

The Giving Tree is decorated with gift tags for needy families in Northfield Township and the St. Luke community. There are specific gift requests for children/teens and tags for grocery gift certificates that can be purchased locally. Diapers are always needed.

Please pick up an instruction sheet at the Giving Tree located in the Whitmore Lake High School Atrium. Gifts can be brought to Living Water on Sunday, November 23 and no later than Sunday, December 7. Monetary donations are also welcome and should be made payable to “Living Water” with “Adopt-a-Family” in the memo line.

Contact Jill Smith at 248.767.2674 or Kelly Bone at 248.703.6684 with questions.

St. Luke-Ann Arbor

The Giving Tree will be up on November 30, and all gifts need to be brought to church by December 14. There will be three types of tags this year.

Some will be similar to the ones at Living Water, but the gifts will be distributed by Wellspring Lutheran Services. The tags have the first name, gender, age, sizes (if appropriate), and gift ideas for children and some adults. In order to have everyone in a family receive gifts of comparable worth and give families the opportunity to provide their own gifts of comparable value next year, Wellspring asks that you spend approximately $25 per person. They also ask that you put the gift(s) for each person unwrapped in a gift bag with the sticker from the ornament firmly attached.
Gift cards of $25 from Meijer or Walmart will be used by the church staff to help people affiliated with one of our sites with special needs throughout the year.
Donations of $25 to Friends in Deed will be part of their annual bed drive. Beds are the most requested type of furniture, and there are often none available when they are needed. The funds are used to purchase new beds at discounted, wholesale prices.