HELPING THOSE IN NEED THIS

CHRISTMAS SEASON

As we enter this Christmas season, Trinity's Outreach Commission encourages our parishioners to participate in one or more of the following opportunities for giving to those in need of our help this holiday. Please know that every item you contribute will bring happiness and relief to someone in need!

1. Christian Caring in Pemberton will be giving out bags of non-perishables as well as Acme gift cards to over 600 households this Christmas. They also need toys for over 1000 children. They are counting on our help again this year. You have three choices:

• Fill a grocery bag with all the canned goods and boxed goods appropriate for a Christmas dinner: yams, cranberry sauce, canned veggies, juice, canned pumpkin, canned milk, gravy, boxed stuffing, boxed crusts, boxed mashed potatoes, brownie mix, icing. Bring to the Parish Hall December 1 through December 18. 2. The Crossroads Program which provides shelter for at-risk kids also depends upon our contributions for their Christmas Drive. Please fill a shopping bag or large gift bag (marked Crossroads) with items listed below, mark boy or girl, and place in the Parish Hall by Dec. 14th.
•  Buy Acme Gift cards ($20 each to be used for a turkey or ham) and give to Deacon Leslie by December 18.
• Buy toys for children and place in a bag marked "Christian Caring" and place in the Parish Hall between December 1 and December 18. A suggestion for this year: Teddy Bears which are loved by both little girls and little boys.

• Gift cards to convenience stores, discount stores, Walmart, Target. (Leave at Church office)
• Electronics- radios, portable CD headphone sets. (Leave in church office.)
• Hygiene Products - shampoo, soaps, body lotions and sprays, nail care products, hair care products, deoderant, toothpaste. 
• Gloves, scarves, hats.
• Infant items:new baby bottles, supermarket gift cards for formula, baby shampoo, lotion, wipes,infant toys, onesies, bibs, car seats, high chairs.

3. Put aside and save coats and jackets you no longer need. We will be collecting these for St. Paul's in Camden in early December. Help provide warmth over the cold winter months ahead.

Aces & Auctions Update

The Outreach Commission’s ‘Aces & Auctions’ fundraiser held on October 17^th was an evening filled with entertainment, fellowship and charity! The Mount Laurel Marriott provided us all with tasty hors d’oeuvres, a sumptuous buffet and a dessert table that was truly enjoyed by all.

The casino gaming was a fun and entertaining way to win tickets for chances on any number of our 65 gift baskets overflowing with goods donated by local businesses, friends and neighbors. Buying tickets for our 50/50 raffle and bidding on our numerous Silent Auction items also added excitement to the event. (I’m sure the lucky bidder of the World Champion Phillies’ Ryan Howard’s signed baseball is especially pleased!)

Of course, the biggest winners were the local charities to which Trinity’s Outreach Commission will contribute all the profits of the evening. These agencies in both Burlington and Camden counties depend upon your generosity to address the needs of urban school children, abused women and children, families in crisis, the homeless, senior citizens, and many others in need of shelter, hope and comfort.