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The Missions & Social Justice Committee is pleased to share with you a list of organizations with which First Church partners closely and who are seeking donations in this holiday season. In the case that you and your family are able to support any of these organizations, we hope that you find the list helpful. If you have any questions, please reach out to Martha Mueller Cook, co-chair of the Missions & Social Justice Committee, at: marthamuellercook@gmail.com.

Christmas at the First Church Shelter

At Christmas, each Shelter guest receives a $50 gift card for personal purchases. Would you like to sponsor one this year? Look for the Shelter Table at the Alternative Christmas Fair or give online. Your donation will truly be appreciated by the Shelter guest. Pies and other dessert items are welcome, as well. For more information contact Shelter Director Jim Stewart.

Friday Café

This year, The Friday Café would love to help guests out with donations of warm winter gloves. Shop locally, visit the Café’s Table at the Alternative Christmas Fair on December 8, and/or order from our Amazon wish list by visiting our website.

Coat Boston and the Christmas Shop

This year, First Church will be collecting donations of new children’s coats, mittens, hats, socks, books, toys, and sporting goods (Soccer balls, baseballs, etc) for Coat Boston and the Christmas Shop. These gifts will be given directly to schools, partner agencies, and organizations in Boston that serve individuals and families in need of resources.

As is our tradition, First Church will collect unwrapped gifts for the Christmas Shop and Coat Boston during our worship service on Sunday, December 8. All adult coats, gloves, scarves, and other clothes for cold weather should be donated to our own Friday Café, where the need is enormous.

Helping Hands Food Pantry

Donations are welcomed by Helping Hands Food Pantry hosted by St. James Episcopal Church. The volunteer-run, donation-driven pantry offers a grocery-shopping experience the second Saturday of each month. The 60+ customers include elders, veterans, families with children, and native speakers of Haitian, Portuguese and Ukrainian – many hold several of these identities. Where possible, items bought in bulk/case are desirable since it supports customers to have a similar shopping experience. The Food Pantry welcomes donations of spices/condiments, cereals/grains/pasta, canned fruit/veggies, oils, incontinence, and feminine hygiene products (no tampons). Things that cannot be accepted are baby diapers, tampons, fresh or frozen food. Please be sure that your contributions are unopened, unexpired, and not in glass containers.

Please bring your holiday season donations to First Church on Sunday, December 1, and Sunday, January 5.

Solutions at Work

Visit Solutions at Work at the Alternative Christmas Fair, where they will be accepting cash donations to support their mission in breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness by providing individuals and families with resources and opportunities to strengthen their self-confidence, achieve self-sufficiency, and participate in helping others. They do this by providing key services to people living in poverty such as a children’s clothing and toy exchange and professional clothing for people in job training programs.

You can donate by visiting their table at the Alternative Christmas Fair on December 8 and/or their website. At the Fair, you will be able to purchase a gift card for a teenager, a voucher for someone who needs to go back to work, and/or a voucher for a family in need. Unwrapped new toys are also welcome.