Christmas Gifts for Refugees
Here is an alternative gift idea which involves the whole family. It is based on an idea which has been very popular in schools around the world for many years, that of providing a shoebox full of appropriate gifts for people in need at Christmastime. It doesn’t cost a lot of money, it’s fun to do,  you can start straight away (!) and it encourages all the family to think about what it means to be poor and alone at Christmas, providing a great opportunity to retell the story of our Lord Jesus.

What are we asking you to do?
We are asking each family to put together a bag of gifts for the poor. It’s an idea you can share, too, with your friends, in your places of work, in your schools. It’s something everyone can do, young or old.

Who will receive the gifts?
The bags will be given to refugees who come to the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center for the party we hold just before Christmas. The majority are young men in their early twenties, and we are expecting around 250. (So if you can do more than one bag, we will be very grateful!)

Here’s how it works….

• Start with an empty paper or pretty plastic bag. (You can pick some up from the Church if necessary).

• Have fun choosing from our lists of ideas. Most of it can simply be added to your trolley in the supermarket…

• Be selective - you don’t need to include everything listed to create a wonderful gift.

• All items should be new, and there should be at least one item from each list, Hygiene, Clothing and Miscellaneous. Feel free to be creative, but please don’t include expensive items.

• Do not seal the bags, just secure with a paper clip.

• Bring to St. Paul’s on or before  Monday 12th December 2011.

Gift Lists

With the support of the Churches Together in Rome

download as pdf