First Unitarian Giving Tree will begin this Sunday, December 4. This year, we are sponsoring 11 families—10 families through Family Promise plus the Congolese family that several church members have been helping since the family’s arrival in March.
How does the Giving Tree work? We will have slips of paper on the tree that contain a wish list for each person we are sponsoring. We ask that you look over the slips and then sign up for the person that you would like to sponsor. We request that all gifts be brought to church by December 18th. They will then be delivered to the families. Gifts should be wrapped and if possible, include a gift receipt.
We would like to give you an update of the Congolese family. Masoka, the mother, arrived in March with her family, which includes her sons Wilonja (William), Lununga, age 20, Kibungo (Bernard), age 18 and her daughters Makyamba, age 14, and Safi, age 24. Makyamba and Kibungo attend Roosevelt HS. Safi has 3 children—Tatu, age 4, Masoka, age 2 and baby Byabele, age 7 months. Also, in the family is Masoka’s mother, Zukari.
All the adults are working and the family is self-sufficient, but their needs are many. Their greatest hope is to find a house they can rent. The search is underway, but four-bedroom rentals are rare. If anyone has any sources for rentals, please contact Joanne Johnson, Sue Huber, or Judy Davis.
The family requests gift cards (Walmart is probably the most practical) or cash for the adults. When we talked to the family about what they wanted or needed, Makyamba was very excited about getting a gift card. Just imagine what it will be like for her, to buy what she wants with her own money, maybe for the first time.
Members of First Unitarian Church have always been generous with their giving to the families, and we ask that you do so again this year.