Each year something truly magical happens at Christmas in
Gilroy, something called Christmas Sharing.
Each year something truly magical happens at Christmas in Gilroy, something called Christmas Sharing. Imagine a project where the CHP gives out jackets and the Mercury News donates more than 3,500 books to homeless, low-income, and migrant children. Imagine a Catholic priest handing a Christmas food box out to a hungry family, side by side with a South Valley Church member translating directions into Spanish, telling the family where the kids can get their picture taken with Santa. For many families this is particularly important, since it will be their only family picture for the year.
Imagine a project that provides Christmas for more than 500 people in a little over five hours.
Imagine an event in which Catholics work with Baptists, conservatives work with liberals, and fundamentalists with non-fundamentalists. Individual differences in believing in and serving the same God don’t matter; what does matter are the months of preparation to get everything ready for those who will come searching for the meaning of Christmas this Saturday at the Baptist Church.
All year St. Joseph’s Family Center, the largest independent outreach agency in South County, collects what is needed for the Christmas Sharing Day. St. Joseph’s is made up of the efforts of eight local churches, and many other community members (such as Orchard Valley Communities and Wal-Mart) who care enough to volunteer to donate time and goods to help those less fortunate than themselves. New Hope Community, First Baptist, Gilroy Presbyterian, Gilroy United Methodist, Good Shepherd Lutheran, St. Mary’s Catholic, St. Stephan’s Episcopal and South Valley Community participate in the Christmas Sharing. Jacqui Merriman, of St. Joseph’s, said it best: “We all work hard to get his work done. It blends all ages, it blends all races, it blends all beliefs into one common goal.” There are too many donations to name all of those who give: It would take more room than I have here in this column, but many more in the community also donate. Last year there were individual families who donated $500 worth of books to children.
The CHP volunteers to transport the food boxes and people to Ochoa Migrant Camp after they pick them up at First Baptist. New Hope Community Church coordinates youth and materials needed for gift wrapping and clean-up. South Valley Disposal donates trucks, large metal trash bins and cardboard bins. First Baptist Church is responsible for overseeing the organization and boxing of toys. The Presbyterians make lunch on give-away day. They also coordinate the book drive, which last year, provided books to over 600 children, thanks to the generosity of the Gilroy community. When I described to a women’s group I belong to in San Jose the way the children sit down and immediately start reading when they discover the book display, the president of our group immediately went out and bought some children’s books in Spanish to send to Gilroy.
This Saturday, Dec. 20 (from 8-2), at the First Baptist Church at 8455 Wren Ave., volunteers are needed to help hand out items, set up the room, wrap gifts and clean up afterward. Come help translate, or help pass out food. Come see the faces of children light up as they discover the book display. Look into their eyes, and let them know that they are loved.
Imagine a day where all that matters is that everyone feels welcome, and the good that others have is shared with all. Imagine a world where all that matters is that everyone feels welcome, and the good that others have is shared with all. Imagine if what Gilroy is doing on Saturday could be echoed in every community around the world.
