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This Advent season, Epworth has several ways for our parishioners to help our neighbors in need. This project is inspired by the three magi who traveled to meet the baby Jesus with precious gifts to honor and worship him. The three giving trees will be up starting Sunday, November 27. Two of the trees will be located in the lobby and one will be located near the Central Ave. entrance door. We are soliciting items specifically needed by the organizations listed as well as monetary donations. The trees will have “ornaments” hanging on them describing the projects we are supporting this Advent.

Hawkins Elementary Stemm Academy  
Our longitme partner asked us to provide some items that teachers routinely need: balls to play with at recess, boxes of tissues, and boxes of snacks: small snack-sized of goldfish, pretzels, fruit bars, etc.

St. Paul’s Community Center  
This downtown homeless shelter and our longtime partner would like our assistance this year collecting items that their residents are frequently in need of. We ask for donations of: underclothes for men & women (larger sizes preferred), women’s stretch bras, socks for men & women, laundry pods, dryer sheets.

Heifer International
Heifer International is a non-profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to ending world hunger and saving the earth by providing livestock, trees, training, and other resources to help poor families in the USA and around the globe. You can purchase heifers, llamas, goats, honeybees, pigs, chickens, and more! Check out the tree "ornaments" for specific amounts to “purchase” these animals.

If you are unable to shop and would like to make a monetary donation to these agencies, donations can be dropped in the offering plate or brought to the church office during the week. Please be sure and write “Advent” and the agency designated.

Kid-to-Kid Missions: Learning to Serve
This Advent season, Epworth’s kids are encouraged to bring in hats and mittens for those kids in need. Items donated will help to provide these much-needed cold weather items to many Toledo neighbors this winter season. We need a variety of children’s sizes. We will be distributing donated items to area partners such as Leading Families Home, St. Paul's Community Center, and Sylvania Area Family Services. Donations can be dropped off either at the Kid-to-Kid Mission table near the children’s check-in counter or placed at the Mitten Tree beginning November 27. The deadline to bring in items is Dec. 19 so we can have them delivered in time for Christmas! 

Other Advent Giving Opportunities:

St. Paul’s:
Donate Hams for Christmas Dinner Thank you for helping St. Paul’s Community Center as they prepare and serve a Christmas meal to people without homes in our community. Mark your ham (traditional or football style) and put it in the church refrigerator ONLY (do not freeze). Hams will be delivered to St. Paul’s through Monday, December 19.

Hat, Mitten, Scarves & Gloves Collection
We will be collecting new hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves for children and adults in our area. There will be a designated Christmas tree in the lobby starting Nov. 27 to place the items as well as a bin near the Central Ave. door. Please bring items in by Sunday, December 25.