Our Lord's Nativity is fast upon us and so many are in need. Please look into your hearts and make this Feast brighter for those less fortunate. We are collecting Christmas gifts (toys) unwrapped for the poor children and teenagers of Atlanta under our "Loaves & Fishes" program. We will need almost 400 gifts this year, as the need is Great! Please Help Us reach this goal.
Also in lieu of gifts, checks can be made out to: Loaves & Fishes Food Program or a gift certificate can be purchased (Blockbusters, movie theaters, Best Buys, Old Navy, etc..). These are especially helpful for the teenage children and we have many of them this year. Please bring your gifts or checks to Carlos Hall or the Cathedral Sunday School office no later than Sunday, December 11th 2005 or directly to St. John the Wonderworker Orthodox Church.
Below you will find a letter sent last year to our Loaves & Fishes Program from a grandmother who desperately needs help from our program. Please take a minute and read this letter.
" Dear Friends",
"I am writing because I am very depressed and don't know what else to do. I am upset because I cannot provide a Christmas for my grandchildren (whom I have legal custody of and have had for some time). They are wonderful, loving children and deserve some happiness. Please bear with me as I am not very good at writing letters.
I have custody of my four grandchildren. As I said, I have for quite some time now. Our only income is my Social Security Disability check. I have health problems. I am a diabetic, have a heart condition, high blood pressure, arthritis, ulcers and other related problems. It is hard, but I love them so much I even enjoy the hard times.
The children are: a boy age 16, a girl age 12, a boy age 8 and a girl age 3.
I just wanted these wonderful children to have a little happiness at Christmas. It will be hard for me to stretch the food for them to have a good Christmas Dinner. The food stamps can only be stretched so far. I would not ask for help if it were for me, but I so much want these children to have a wonderful Christmas. They deserve a little happiness in their lives because they have been through so much.
Please be assured that any help you can give them will be so deeply appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Sincerely,
Linda
You can also see a slide show of last years Christmas program here.
Please, prayerfully consider doing all you can to provide a joyous Christmas for those less fortunate.
All monetary donations will be used to buy any extra gifts and food that is needed!
Thank you for your service to our Lord and the gifts you bring to Him.
For more information contact:
Costa Panos - (H)#404-874-1329
(O)#404-325-5900 or
(Cell)#404-642-6756 or
Father Jacob Myers
(O)#404-577-6330