Dear friends,

It seems that this time of year everyone is revving up for the Christmas season. Well, I want to bring an opportunity your way that will allow you to help those in our community who are in need this holiday season. Of course and as always nothing is obligatory. Just simply providing the opportunity if you so wish to participate.

My mom and I are adopting a family this Christmas. We feel the Lord has laid a mother of 3 boys on our hearts. Her name is Stephanie, mid-30s and is a devote Christian (and has visited Westside a few times). However, her husband was recently and unexpectedly incarcerated for criminal activity she knew nothing about. Leaving her to pick up the pieces. Her children have one decent meal a day (at school) and the rest of the meals consist of whatever they can afford (mac & cheese, etc.) and are even having difficulty paying their rent. 2 of the 3 sons have birthdays in December so you can imagine that this Christmas is going to be a tough one to pull off as every dollar is already being stretched. Without help, these 3 boys and mother will not have anything this Christmas.

I am giving you the opportunity to give a financial donation toward this family. Your gifts will be combined to purchase a Wal-Mart gift card. Everyone knows you can buy pretty much anything and everything at Wal-Mart. It is our hope that we can collect enough to cover their immediate needs, the upcoming birthdays and of course provide them with incredibly deserving Christmas. I have set up a PayPal account (link below) call Christmas Family Fund. Would you please give? Donations for the Christmas Family are due by December 5th. If you would like more details please don’t hesitate to ask me. I will keep those of you who are interested – up to date on how this goes. If you cannot give financially, that is ok! Prayer support is just as, if not, more important. Please pray for this family. No family should have to go through this difficulty. Pray the Lord would have favor on them. I would love to know who is with us in prayer support so please let me know!

Click here to donate quickly and securely using PayPal.

Also, like I do every year I have set up an online Red Kettle with the Salvation Army. This is another way you can give back to the community if you so wish to participate. (Salvation Army donations are tax-deductible. These donations are not related to before mentioned Christmas family.)

Click here to give to Salvation Army or more info. about them

Links to both of these donation sites can be found on my sidebar here. If you feel so led, please place them or links to them on your blogs.  Or just pingback to this post.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I could ramble on more – but I won’t. Blessings!!!

Happy Holidays,
Crystal Renaud

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7