Samaritan Purse Build a Christmas Box
Thank you for your interest in this important and fun mission!
To build a box on line, click here.
This year there are 3 ways to take part in this fun mission.
- Go to the link above and build a box on line. Each box will be $30.
2. Give Maxine a check for $30 (payable to her) and she will build boxes on line for those not interested in doing it.
3. Take one of the cardboard boxes from church and fill it for a child yourself. You will need to also take and use a label indicating whether it’s for a boy or girl and the age range. Please also consider putting a check for $10 in the top of the box payable to Samaritan’s Purse to cover shipping.
Do include toys, clothes (avoid logos, pictures and other writing on the clothes), toothbrushes, paper pads and crayons. Don’t put soap, food, candy, liquids or war toys. Please make sure the box is fun and full. If you like include a picture and a note from you to personalize it. Remove all packaging if possible.
Samaritan’s Purse sends gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to children in need around the world together with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
By filling ordinary shoeboxes full of toys and other fun items, you can be part of giving boys and girls what may be their first gift ever! Local churches in more than 100 nations hand out these Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts at festive outreach events where the Gospel is presented in a child-friendly way. Each box bursting with items such as a soccer ball, doll, or stuffed animal becomes a tangible expression of God’s love to the child, their family, and their community. Many shoebox recipients also participate in our 12-lesson follow-up discipleship program, The Greatest Journey.
Men’s Mission Group
The Men’s Mission Group has been quite busy this year with several responsibilities.
They strive to take care of the physical property of our Father’s house and repair all that needs repairing. In addition they have a maintence group available to go to parishioners homes to do light maintenance for those that are unable to do there own. This service is not limited to those of Valley Presbyterian. Members of the community may also request. help. There service also include transportation for those in need.
The group helps to feed members and their families who are hungry. At their monthly luncheons they collect money and have game nights to raise money for the Salvation Army food mission.
Recently the group collected playground equipment for a school in a disavantaged area and most recently they collected toilet paper, tissues, white board wipes and paper towels for the same school (pictured).
Because of the very generous donations toward Beaver Dam Elementary School Christmas Project, the men’s luncheon group was able to present them with a gift of twice our original estimated amount! There was definatly happy children on Christmas Day.
The men’s group also donated a new desk to the churches technical team and modified it to meet the teams needs.
Women’s Ministry Group
Salvation Army
The Women’s Food Basket Mission began in 2020. At that time our mission did meals for holidays for families only. Our mission has expanded to provide seniors and families with baskets each month.
In addition to the food baskets, the mission gives out gift cards to church family members for different purposes. Church members have given money to the homeless, helped the Salvation Army, Senior Center, and Highland Manor by donating socks, slippers, travel size personal items and plastic ware. Along with the Exchange Club we donated travel size items for the Drug Court Program. The Mission also buys for the Angel Tree, seniors, and families..
Our meetings are on the second Thursday of every month at 1:00 pm at Valley Presbyterian Church. This meeting is where we plan our next meals and make things like the Christmas stockings.
Rick & Deb Burcham and Dave & Kathy Bakken picked up & delivered just under $500 worth of food to Salvation Army August 15 on behalf of the Women’s Ministry.
Faith and First Responders
Our Women’s Mission group worked along side the women from Mesquite Baptist Church to serve an amazing breakfast at the Faith and First Responders event Thursday, October 23.
Food Bank
Each month when Valley Presbyterian gathers around the Lord’s Table for Communion, we gather some of our gifts of food and finances to share with those in need. Some of our church members volunteer on a regular basis.
Prayer Shawl and Outreach
The Prayer Shawl and Outreach group distributes shawls and quilts to those in need of support and also to recognize those who have gone above and beyond. In addition they support Senior Living Centers and other projects the group has identified. The group has been working with our local police. Many of the quilts and shawls are distributed by the police to homeless people, people in need they call on, elderly residents, victims of domestic violence and any other areas they see a need.
Below are photos from April meeting. We met to say goodbye to our snowbirds and to celebrate Pat’s 90th birthday. Many thanks to Shirley who leads our group feeds us and keeps us on the right path.
Quilts and shawls all carry the blessing of the congregation. Below are pictures of the last blessing day.
Senior Living Centers
The Prayer Shawl/Outreach group sponsor and help with activities at the local senior living centers.
The group assisted residents of the Mesa Valley Estates in a Teddy Bear Clinic for local children. Children brought their stuffed animals to the clinic to be weighed, measured and evaluated by a certified stuffed animal doctor for any problems. Light repairs were made to the stuffed animals if needed. The purpose of the clinic was to teach children that doctors visits weren’t scary.
Members of the Prayer Shawl/Outreach group visited the Beehive Senior Living Centers for a Hymn Day. Mary Bowers played some of the older hymns that residents knew by heart. The residents love to have music days when the group visits.
Members that led the hymn sing in at the Beehive Senior Center were Shirley Jessup, Pat Waldorf, Marilyn Weiss, Judy Strachan and Mary Bowers.
They reported that they had as much fun as the residents!
