BASKETS FROM THE HEART

 LOVE, PEACE, JOY, LIGHT and GIVING are all words describing the wondrous and glorious season of Christmas we have just celebrated. Those same words are truly descriptive of the time, the work, and the efforts of those who assisted in any way to make the Christmas Basket project of 2009 so wonderful and exciting.

  Fifty seven needy families with just one or more adults and many with children (over 100) enjoyed a brighter Christmas through the food and gifts they received. Thanks Thanks to over seventy five basket donors and to everyone who donated funds for the Christmas presents for the children. They were purchased and wrapped by the youth. Thanks to Barb McClain for the beautiful Christmas ornaments given to the donors. Thanks to the youth for a bag of candy for each basket and to everyone who donated food items placed on the Tree of Hope. Thanks to a busy woman and/or busy women who knitted and donated scarves, mittens and hats given to the children.

  Thanks to Family Video on Ohio Street for the twenty turkeys donated to the project and to Thrivent for the $300.00 donation to assist with the purchase of the food. A huge thanks is extended to many people who worked behind the scenes for the project. They included those who gathered over seventy five apple boxes, those who helped purchase and wrap presents, those who picked up the purchased food, packers to put the food into the boxes, and the bearers of the boxes (delivery drivers). We thank our office staff (Christine, and Joyce at Peace, and Carla and Brenda at First English - Brenda kept the master list this year) for taking all the phone messages requesting a basket and recording the names of the many givers to the project. Many hands and hearts made the project so fulfilling.

YES!!! THERE IS A SONG IN THE AIR SURROUNDING THE CONGREGATIONS OF FIRST ENGLISH AND PEACE IN CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTMAS BASKET PROJECT.    PASTOR NANCY, STEVE KOSMER AND LEN PLACE