As in past years, our Parish has pledged to help one local young family celebrate Christmas through the Salvation Army Adopt-a-Family program by providing clothing, shoes, and winter wear for each family member; toys or other gifts for everyone; some household needs; and a Christmas dinner. We hope that the parish will again use its collective creativity and varied shopping interests in this effort. We are starting early to allow time for you to do so safely.

This year our Salvation Army family consists of a young mother caring for five children from a blended family. The mother – described by the Salvation Army social worker as an “old” 20-year-old – is currently separated from her boyfriend and has in her care five of “his, her, and their” children. The children are 12-year-old Ava, described as “something of a tomboy,” 9-year-old girl Ally, 2-year-old girl Braelyn, 20-month-old “girly-girl” Karter, and 5-month-old baby boy Keaton. The two older girls share a room as do the two younger girls. Karter is moving to a toddler bed in her sister’s room, and Keaton will take her crib. The mom would like to redecorate his room as a “baby man-cave.”

Ways to Help

• You can send a monetary donation to the church, and we will shop for gifts.

• Or you can shop for gifts yourself, and either a) ship them to the church, b) drop them off at the church, or c) have it picked up from your home on Saturday, December 5.

If You're Sending a Monetary Donation (by November 23)

• You can send a check made out to the church with “Salvation Army Family” in the memo line.

• Mailing address: St. Thomas à Becket Church / 75 Old Cheat Road / Morgantown, WV 26508

• You do not need to sign up to send a donation – just please send it early!

• Please understand that all monetary donations are undesignated gifts to the project and will be used for our adoptive family to fill needs as the folks from Outreach see fit. We are sorry we can’t accommodate requests to shop for a certain gift with your contribution.

If You're Shopping for Gifts

• This year instead of taking a tag from a tree, you can go to a Google Sheet to see the list of gifts. For security reasons, we aren’t sharing this list on the website, but it was sent out in the Parish Post. If you don’t receive the Parish Post, please email parish@stthomasabecket.org or call 304-296-0270 to get access to the Sheet.

• The Google Sheet lists family members in the first column and gifts for each person in the second column. It is possible that we will add a few gifts to the list as we learn new information.

• Choose a gift you would like to purchase, then enter your name by clicking on the blank box to the right of your gift. Type your name, then hit “return” (or “enter”). (The box should turn red and have your name in it!)

• Please enter your contact information (email and phone) in column – to the right of your name.

Natalie will be happy to assist you with signing up for a gift. Just call the church during office hours at 304-297-0270. If you have a recipient or a specific gift in mind, that will save time. You may also email Natalie at parish@stthomasabecket.org or Grace Ayscue at grace.ayscue@gmail.com. Please include a phone number; we will call you when we are able to have the Google Sheet open.

Thank you very much to everyone who contributes to this effort!