One of my favorite things about The Tablet’s annual Bright Christmas Campaign is reading the many personal notes that are attached to your donations.
This week, I received a $5 check from an elderly woman in Brooklyn. She’s a long-time reader of The Tablet and a faithful donor to Bright Christmas. But her eyesight is beginning to fail her and she no longer can read. So, it was with regrets that she asked that her subscription be cancelled.
But there was her check and note that said she wanted to make sure she didn’t miss her chance to help someone this year through our Bright Christmas drive.
Those are the kind of faithful folks who donate to Bright Christmas and upon whom we rely to make Christmas just a little bit brighter for so many youngsters each year.
Last year, our readers responded by sending us more than $123,400. We distributed that money to parishes, and church agencies throughout Brooklyn and Queens to assist them with their Christmas celebrations. Some used the money to buy gifts for children. Others used it to finance their Christmas parties and pageants. Lots of food and needed clothing was purchased to help out someone less fortunate.
The good news this year is that we have already opened up envelopes totaling a little over $53,000. The not-so-good news is that by this time last year we had already collected $58,000. So, we seem to be a little behind schedule.
But I’m confident that our patrons will pick up the pace and that we will be able to respond to the many requests for help that have already arrived at our office.
This week, we heard from several Catholic Charities centers in Brooklyn and Queens.
Shakima Bell, the program manager for the Catholic Charities after-school center at PS 50 in Jamaica, wrote to tell us that last year she was able to throw a party for the children and this year would like to expand it to include more family members.
The Charities Queensbridge Early Development program wants to host a party for 154 of its children.
We also heard from Father Ed Mason who does such great grassroots work in Brownsville at Our Lady of the Presentation-Our Lady of Mercy parish.
“The Brownsville community, the poorest in the diocese, has an inordinate number of family shelters,” he writes. “The past three years, our parish has been hosting a Christmas-Three Kings party for the children and families from several of these facilities. Gifts are purchased for all of the children and adults attending, food and snack are provided, as well as live entertainment.”
We’re putting Father Mason and the people of Brownsville on our Bright Christmas list. All we need from you is for you to put Bright Christmas on your list.
It’s simple. Write a check to The Tablet’s Bright Christmas and send it to me at The Tablet, 1712 Tenth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215. The quicker we get your check, the quicker we’ll pick up the pace of getting help to our church’s representatives on the frontlines of our neighborhoods.