Christmas Cards + Parties = #GivingTuesday

Since my husband and I started working for BGCH over 18 years ago, we have always anticipated this season of the year a little more than usual. It is generally around this time that we receive a well-traveled, tattered, multi-stamped package from a place far away that not only bears the writings of a foreign land and language, but even at times we could "smell" the fragrant and nostalgic smells of that same place we have grown to love. It reminds us instantly of our family, our brothers and sisters young and old, who are anticipating this season with us and whom we love deeply.

The faces and Christmas cards and painted hand prints that have become the staple contents of that tattered Christmas package are ones that we cherish and pray for. Many of you know exactly what I'm talking about. You have been fortunate enough to receive the same annual gift and reminder of the little brown-eyed extended member of your family whom you also have grown to know and love. For as long as we can remember, little boys and girls have gathered around tables or sat on the floors of BGCH to write Christmas cards to their sponsors on the other side of the world whom they will probably never meet in person, but who are like family to them.

At the same time, we receive many, many Christmas cards from YOU. Cards that we will then pass on and send in our own box or package to that same place far away. Because just like us, that package brings joy and sunshine and happiness to the ones whose names get called notifying them that they have mail. But here's the thing. There aren't cards for every child. Actually, there are no cards for most of the children. Only a few ever get that moment to have their name called and be handed a card that was written just for them by someone that loved them even though they have never met.

This #GivingTuesday, we are determined to fix that. We believe that every child deserves to know that they are loved and cared for. Each child deserves a Christmas card - a small token of love, a sense of "Home" and "Hope" during this season when we celebrate the Savior. For many of the children of BGCH, it's with a new sense of home and family, of hope and love, that they will celebrate Christmas for the first time. They will hear of a baby named Jesus, our Savior, who came into the world to rescue us. Cards are a just a very small, yet tangible, way we can share the love, joy and message of Christmas with them.

That's where #GivingTuesday "Home for Christmas" Card parties come in. There are TWO ways that you can give back this November 29, 2022 - otherwise known as #GivingTuesday. The first way is obvious - financial gifts. We are approx. $120,000 short of the 2022 budget and between November 29 - December 31 we are looking to fill in that gap by reaching out to you. If that's something you can do this year, follow this link to find out how you can help. (https://bgchm.networkforgood.com/projects/177403-givingtuesday-home-for-christmas)

But that's not what this post is about. This is about parties...and cards.

We are asking friends of BGCH for help. Would you consider hosting your very own #GivingTuesday "Home for Christmas" Card party? Here's how it works: You let us know how many children you would like to write a Christmas card to. (We have 275 children and staff so there are plenty to go around!) We will give you the names of the number of children you choose. Then you and your friends (or family or teammates or Sunday School class or colleagues or whatever group of people you love to hang out with) will purchase, or create, your own Christmas cards that you will write to your assigned children while you get to hang out and eat fun food, drink fun drinks and celebrate however you like to celebrate for your Card Party.

If you are able to host your party actually on November 29th, you can post pictures with the following hashtag on your social media so that we can see all of the love from all over the country: #GivingTuesdayHomeforChristmasatBGCH Then once your cards are ready, you can send them to BGCH, PO Box 612, Russellville, AR 72811 and we will take care of the rest.

So, who's ready for a party?