This year, 136 congregations and many chapters of Thrivent Financial participated in the Christmas Ingathering, collecting $110,000 in donations and providing more than 320 volunteers!
Children served by LCFS programs will receive more than $25,000 in gifts. Lutheran World Relief, one of the largest relief organizations in the world (www.lwr.org) received quilts, school kits, hygiene kits, and sewing kits valued at about $60,000. These donations are delivered to the LWR office in Baltimore for distribution all over the world. The remaining donations, including personal care kits, hygiene supplies, socks and work gloves are distributed to 40 local agencies and ministry organizations including: Seaman’s Church Institute, Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries work for the homeless, Elwyn, Inglis House, Eagleville Rehabilitation, and Norristown State Hospital.
This year, Gloria Dei Church, Huntingdon Valley, served as the central drop-off site for the Philadelphia area gifts. As in past years, their congregation provided approximately 75 volunteers to unload trucks and sort gifts. They donated the use of their fellowship hall for 2 weeks – no small gift in this busy time for Christian congregations.
