December 10, 2014 in News
Thanks to You Thousands Have Christmas
For this year’s Christmas Ingathering, about 65 congregations collected donations for vulnerable people.
On Dec. 7, about 50 volunteers (mostly from Gloria Dei Church, Huntingdon Valley) unpacked trucks, sorted donations and repacked them for delivery.
The items, valued at about $95,000, will serve people locally and internationally.
Some highlights of the Ingathering included:
- Congregations gave 1000 gifts for children in care through Lutheran Children and Family Service.
- Boxes of toiletries and hundreds of socks were given for Philadelphia Lutheran Ministry serving men who are homeless.
- Lutheran Settlement House received a van-load of new underwear, toiletries, care kits and gloves to serve women and children at risk.
- Seamen’s Church Institute received a van-load of work gloves, socks, hats and soap to distribute to seafarers.
- Hundreds of “Personal Care Kits” were assembled and delivered to local institutions that care for people with disabilities, adjudicated youth, people with mental illness and people overcoming addiction.
- A 15’ truck was filled to the brim with quilts used for shelter and various supply kits for Lutheran World Relief (www.lwr.org) to assist people recovering from disaster and economic challenges throughout the world.
- More than 150 bags of non-perishable food were distributed to food pantries in the city of Philadelphia.
The Ingathering has been a SEPA tradition for 47 years. It is managed by Liberty Lutheran through its Lutheran Congregational Services affiliate and is supported by most of the Thrivent Financial for Lutheran Chapters in the Philadelphia area.
Thanks to everyone who participated. Mark your calendar to participate in collecting items next fall for delivery on December 6, 2015!
