Christmas Giving Tree
Each year during Advent, St. Josaphat parishioners and school families have generously participated in our annual Giving Tree, providing donations and gifts to local organizations and families in need at Christmastime. This ministry coordinates the needs of partnering organizations with the generous spirit of our parishioners in order to provide gifts and the necessities of life (food, clothing, baby formula, diapers, car seats, etc.) to those in need in our neighborhood and beyond. Donors may sign up through the Giving Tree Sign Up Genius or select a tag off the tree in the back of church.
If you are ordering online, please consider using St. Josaphat as your Amazon Smile charity. Your gift will also benefit our parish.
Questions? Want to volunteer?
Contact Carol Galuhn [email protected]
Delivery & Deadlines:
Gifts for Courage
We encourage you to order online, all Courage gifts should be sent/delivered DIRECTLY TO COURAGE (not to the rectory):
Attn: Molly O’Grady
The Courage Program
9711 S. Kolin Ave.
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
The Courage Program
9711 S. Kolin Ave.
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
All other gifts
should be delivered to the rectory no later than TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5TH to give us time to sort and deliver them to recipient organizations for distribution to families by Christmas. Want to help us load cars and drive gifts to these organizations? Please sign up below!
Organizations Supported by The Giving Tree:
Courage is based at St. Germaine Parish in Oak Lawn and networks with high schools in their area, including Englewood, to provide resources to pregnant young women and single parents. Besides programs to help their personal growth and parenting skills, Courage provides its mothers with the necessities they cannot obtain on their own, such as formula, diapers, wipes, clothes and household items. We ask that you have these gifts delivered directly to Courage (not to the rectory).
Our Sharing Parish is located on the west side of Chicago. St. Agatha/St. Simon assists its parishioners and others in their neighborhood in need during the Christmas season and throughout the year. Their parish office receives requests from their registered families for gifts to be distributed at their annual Christmas event.
Our Hands of Mercy's outreach for the hungry, Don's Helping Hands assists individuals who come to the rectory weekdays for a sandwich and hot soup or pop. Daily requests for socks, hats and gloves are the norm.
Our Hands of Mercy Prison Ministry supports Kolbe House - the agency of the Department of Parish Vitality and Mission of the Archdiocese of Chicago that serves individuals and families affected by the criminal justice system. Coats, hats, and gloves are especially needed and much appreciated.
Our Hands of Mercy Aging Ministry supports our neighborhood's aging communities at Little Sisters and Symphony. Gifts are distributed to residents at their annual Christmas celebrations.
Peck Elementary School strives to educate the whole child within a diverse community. The School services approximately 800 students, most of which speak Spanish at home. Approximately 500 of the students have been identified as English Language Learners and participate in the bilingual instructional program. Peck Elementary School is requesting children’s books, stuffed animals, and blankets for students.
