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The 2009 Christmas Giving Program was our most successful ever! From December 5th through December 24th, more than 2,000 volunteers came to My Brother's Keeper to serve in Christ's name. Together we were privileged to deliver Christmas gifts and food to 2,262 families in 60 communities. Within these families were 6,012 children and 3,163 adults for a total of 9,175 people. Our sincerest gratitude to all who helped make this year's effort such a tremendous success.
One family served writes:
Dear My Brother's Keeper,
I have two young children, ages 3 and 16-months. Without your help I don't think they would have a Christmas. God gave me a Christmas miracle this year and it was you! Thanks again. May God Bless you!
A beautiful thank you card from a 13 year-old girl:
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Each family we serve at Christmas receives, in addition to gifts, a turkey or ham for Christmas dinner and a gift certificate to a local supermarket
A wonderful letter of gratitude and holiday wishes
The My Brother's Keeper Christmas Program
The My Brother's Keeper Christmas program began in 1991 when we had the privilege of serving 14 families in the city of Brockton. Every year this program has grown not only in the number of families that we have served, but in the number of sponsors who have donated their time, talent, and treasure. In 2008 we served 1,986 families and this past Christmas we served 2,262 families.
These deliveries would not be possible without the sponsors who support our program. We invite you to join the many people who are making Christmas wishes come true for families in need!
Christmas Reflection
"Remembering Kimberly"
By Josh Smith, Staff
What makes My Brother’s Keeper special is not so much what we do, but how we do it. Among other things, it’s important to us to keep our focus on the people we serve in Christ’s name, refusing to look at them as simply ‘numbers.’
To process more than 2,000 Christmas requests, we start taking calls from families in need in early September. A lot of things can happen, though, over the course of the three months before December 25th. Families sometimes move or their phone is disconnected, complicating the delivery of their presents. At some point, we load up our trucks and try every ‘disconnected’ delivery—a number of times if necessary. It’s not always easy to find these families but these deliveries are always my favorite because of the excitement we witness when we unexpectedly show up.
A Christmas delivery to Kimberly was a great example. One cold night a week before Christmas, Craig “Moose” Carey joined me for a ‘disconnect’ attempt. Kimberly lived in a housing complex on the eastside of Brockton. As we approached her apartment, I saw the outline of a small Christmas tree and the flicker of a TV through the window—a good sign.
Kimberly was startled by our knock on the door. Sure enough, after identifying ourselves for a second time as “My Brother’s Keeper,” we heard her cry of recognition through the door. “Oh, my God!” Kimberly exclaimed as she fumbled with the lock. Inside we met Kimberly and her two young wide-eyed children, already in their pajamas for the night. Their apartment was sparsely furnished and there were no presents under her tree. Clearly, without My Brother’s Keeper, there would be no Christmas.
Kimberly explained this was their first apartment. Like many of the families we helped this Christmas, Kimberly had recently been laid off and couldn’t find another job. As a result, money was too tight for that large, one-time expense of Christmas presents.
Considering this, it was no surprise Kimberly was excited to see us. “I didn’t know what we were going to do,” she exclaimed. Of course, we would never forget Kimberly and families like hers. As a Christian ministry, we are called to make the extra effort to find those most in need, much like the shepherd in the Parable of the Lost Sheep or the woman in the Parable of the Lost Coin. We didn’t look at Kimberly’s family as just one of 2,262 we would serve this Christmas, but as individuals, fellow children of God.
My Brother’s Keeper Prayer
Lord . . .
When I have food, Help me to remember the hungry.
When I lie in my bed, Help me to remember those who sleep on the floor.
When I have a warm home, Help me to remember the homeless.
When I have work, Help me to remember those without jobs.
When I experience the joy of giving to my children, Help me to remember the agony of those who must watch their children go without.
By remembering, Help me to destroy my indifference and arouse my compassion.
Make me concerned enough to act in your name, to help those who cry out to you for that which I so often take for granted.
Amen
"Whatever
you do for the most humble of my people, you do for me."
Matthew 25:40