The Friday Finish – December 6, 2024
Christmas Miracle, Again, at Red Bird
A Christmas miracle takes place every year at Red Bird Mission Community Outreach in a room called, “The Christmas Room.” Volunteers travel hundreds of miles each year to help organize, individually pack and distribute Christmas boxes for children in the community. Parents and family members began picking up boxes, wrapping paper, and a ham or turkey on Monday of this week. Two hundred seventy-seven (277) children will be grateful and happy on Christmas morning because of the generosity of church groups, various organizations and volunteers who make these gifts possible.
Becky Snodgrass from Georgetown (KY) United Methodist Church is one of our volunteers who packs up and helps distribute Christmas boxes. Becky said,
“I fell in love with the community, with Tracy, and with Candace. You can see God’s hands and feet in everything that happens here at the Mission. This is a beautiful place to come and serve with beautiful people that touch your heart. I am blessed to be able bodied enough to help.”
Kayla, Red Bird Development staff, follows Candace Collins, Women and Children Ministries Coordinator, to the storage room of boxed donations. Candace said,
“We collect these donations all year round for our people, not only for Christmas.”
Candace gets emotional as she says,
“I want my community to know that I can relate to them. Whether it's giving them food or a blanket, if I can help just one person, that means everything to me.”
Written on a box labeled “2 blankets and 2 sheets,” are the words,
“God's love surrounds you,”
from Jonesville UMC.
Shoebox Devotion and Love
Santa hasn't come to town just yet, but generous church groups arrived Wednesday morning with two U-Haul trucks delivering 2500 shoeboxes for our community filled with Christmas items and small gifts. “Shoe boxes?” you may ask. My friends, these are much more than shoe boxes. The devotion, collaboration and love that goes into the hands that help provide these gifts are what makes these “shoebox” gifts so very special.
Several departments of the Red Bird Mission community came together to help unload, distribute and organize these gifts that will be prepared for people in the community. Staff from Community Outreach, Work Camp, and ECD Preschool, along with other department volunteers stood together with the delivery team from New York state before the U-Haul and said a prayer of thanks after unloading.
Red Bird collaborates with a number of organizations and church groups of various denominations to give our people a Merry Christmas. Tracy Nolan, Community Outreach Director said,
“I am only one piece to the bigger picture; it is all of us uniting together with a mission. Dave Alexander [New York state church member] deserves the recognition for his devotion to helping Red Bird Mission, and without his collaboration with various church groups, this [shoebox donation] would not be possible.”
Twenty-five hundred (2,500) shoeboxes of personal hygiene supplies, diapers, home medical supplies, bedding, and school supplies are being distributed during December. One hundred (100) pairs of shoes were generously gifted by Soles 4 Souls, and gifts of toys were given by Toys 4 Tots. Included in the cargo with the two U-Haul trucks were twin beds and mattresses.
The shoebox gifts will be given to church organizations and groups in the area of Bell, Clay and Leslie County to distribute to the communities. Tracy says,
“These church groups are helping us in our mission to reach and impact more people. I want our community to remember the reason for the season. It is not about the gifts. It is about God and serving our community; giving them hope.”
Hams and Turkeys for a Christmas Feast
Besides Dave Alexander and his volunteers from New York state, two other “secret Santas” pulled their “sleigh” of hams and turkeys up to the Community Outreach dock a few days ago. Ed Wright and Pastor Steve Schofield brought the Christmas feast. Ed has been serving our community and a devotee to Red Bird Mission for many years.
Rev. Schofield, pastor of Dahlonega Methodist Church in Georgia, and Ed delivered Christmas hams and turkeys for families and members of the community struggling financially.
Pastor Steve said,
“I believe every follower of Christ is called to a mission. Ed is a part of our church, and because of him, we are honored to help Red Bird Mission. They [Red Bird] are a very trustworthy organization.”
Kevin Wilson Inspires Giving Tuesday Response
Red Bird was blessed to have Kevin Wilson (Class of ’90) to inspire folks by hosting Facebook Live events on Giving Tuesday this week in spite of overnight snow that adjusted the original schedule of video streaming. Kevin sang his original Christian music at each stop with staff – Tracy Nolan (Community Outreach), Kelton Adams (Cardinal Café), Jennifer Wilder (School) and Tim Crawford, Development Director – joining Kevin to give a snapshot of how giving supports vital programs.
Kevin closed each session with a Christmas carol which seemed to fit the mood of the day with Christmas box distributions at Outreach and snow on the ground outside. As Kevin was closing out the last Giving Tuesday video, he said,
“In my humble opinion, Red Bird Mission has always been an extraordinary light in this community – for Bell, Leslie and Clay – and even farther out.”
Over 2,000 viewed the videos with many leaving positive comments about Kevin and Red Bird Mission. Kevin offered 10 CD’s of his music to stimulate giving during the afternoon that went out to supporters in state and out of state. Over $7,600 has been raised thus far for Giving Tuesday to support Red Bird programs that need charitable giving in order to serve hundreds of families with critical needs. Gifts can still be given online - https://bit.ly/RedBirdGivingTuesday24 - or checks mailed to Red Bird Mission, 70 Queendale Ctr, Beverly, KY 40913 marked “Giving Tuesday”.