Bringing Holiday Cheer and Connecting Families

Though out November and December, Calvary members have been collecting sweatshirts, socks, chocolate bars and other items to include in Christmas satchels for seafarers.

In their letter, Seafarers International House writes, "What might otherwise have been another lonely night at sea becomes instead a joyous occasion, not only because of the beautiful gifts, but because strangers ashore have taken the time to share the spirit of Christmas with these seafarers. It’s awesome!"

Together, we completed and delivered 31 satchels which means one full crew of a merchant vessel and about a quarter of another crew will receive gifts & greetings( from Calvary) at their Christmas party at sea.

Then in early December, Calvary members expanded their Christmas list to include anonymous children through the Angel Tree program. Last Saturday, 19 children in 8 families received two gifts each from their incarcerated parent, (towns included were Prospect Park, Rutherford, Clifton, Passaic, Totowa and North Arlington).

Through the generosity (of spirit and gifts) we brought about connections - strangers become friends we may never meet, absent parents share in a holiday with the children they cannot be with and caregivers' loads are made a little lighter knowing they are not forgotten. We shared the Love and spread the Word and made a difference.