As the last-minute push toward Christmas dwindles down to a precious few days, we’re trying to get our Bright Christmas checks out to the parishes and agencies that help the needy of Brooklyn and Queens at Christmas.
Our goal is to make sure that no child goes without a gift this Christmas. So far, Tablet readers have sent us almost $97,000, but that falls short of the $123,000 we were able to distribute last year. We still have some envelopes to open and I’m sure we’ll reach our goal, but if you have not made your donation as of yet, please do so as quickly as possible.
The requests continue to arrive. One Brooklyn pastor wrote, “Last year, our parish was able to provide assistance to families and individuals who were in need of support. A party to celebrate our Savior’s birth for the parishioners, volunteers, and families was possible because of the Bright Christmas grant.”
This year, that pastor would like to continue that kind of help to families with gifts and vouchers to local food markets. We want to get that check to him as soon as we can.
We also heard from a Sister in Williamsburg who tells us that her agency hopes to provide more than 500 neighborhood children with Christmas clothing, gifts and toys.
“We don’t want to turn away any child because of not having enough for all,” she says.
We don’t want Sister to turn away anyone either and so we’re counting on our loyal and generous readers to continue their spirit of generosity they have shown in the past in making a contribution to Bright Christmas.
I always enjoy reading the personal notes from our donors. They tell heroic stories about our diocesan family that continues to put others before themselves.
Claudia Gilchriest of Park Slope sent a donation with an explanation that her mother, who passed away this year, always donated to Bright Christmas.
“When the envelope arrived, our family decided to continue her tradition of donating to the Bright Christmas Fund,” she writes.
Former diocesan employee Cathy Femia sent her check with this note: “Thank you keeping me up to date on all the good things going on in our diocese.”
And also came the annual donation from the Sbordone
family. Father Guy, pastor of St. Frances Cabrini parish, Bensonhurst, is one of the siblings who pool their money each year, instead of buying gifts for each other at Christmas so that others can receive gifts. Their gift comes in the name of their recently deceased father, Hugo.
It’s simple to participate. Simply send your check to The Tablet’s Bright Christmas c/o of The Tablet, 1712 Tenth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215.
On behalf of all you have helped this Christmas, thank you and Merry Christmas to you!
