Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Email - Volunteer Updates - December 2013

Greetings, Breakthrough Volunteers!
It's December and that means that it's prime time for volunteering at Breakthrough! This month is some of our biggest events of the year, the BIG serves! Read on for more info and to sign up! Also, if you've been waiting for the perfect opportunity to invite your friends to volunteer with you, this is it! We need everyone we can get to make the BIG serves happen! So come on out with us and brighten someone's holiday season!  :)

December is also time for Breakthrough's Christmas Store - they need lots of gift donations, so please consider perusing their wish list for the Christmas Store and see if there's something you'd like to give!  :)

DECEMBER MEAL OPPORTUNITIES - BIG SERVES!!!
We think Christmas is a big deal. Mostly because that's when we celebrate the birth of Jesus and we think He's a pretty big deal. So -  we love to share the love, joy and peace of Christmas with our friends staying at Breakthrough by making our serving opportunities in December BIG serves! 
  • Men's Facility Serve Thursday, 12/12 (402 N St. Louis) -  The BIG Serve for the guys means we serve them restaurant-style, including waitstaff and menus with choices of steak and/or shrimp and lots and lots of options for side dishes and desserts. We need volunteers, cash donations for the shrimp and steak, and folks to bring all the sides, desserts and little things that make this event a success. To sign up as a volunteer and/or to bring something, click here
  • Women's Serve - Friday, 12/20 - (3330 W Carrol Ave) For the ladies (Fri 12/20), the BIG Serve means a classy, comfortable party with options for making gifts (decorating sugar cookies and picture frames are some great projects from previous years), listening to soul-filled holiday music and enjoying flavorful holiday bites. To sign up to volunteer, click here. Be sure to note if you can bring something extra, lead a craft or maybe even help provide some music! ;)
This month, we're trying something a little bit different with sign-ups. Instead of just replying and letting me know that you'll be going, use the links above under each meals description to sign up - it's easier for us to keep straight who can bring what or take charge of what craft, etc. and it's easier for you to invite your friends and loved ones to share in the love! But of course, if you have any problems or questions - let me know!

CHRISTMAS STORE
Want to participate, but can't help us with our BIG Serves? Every year, Breakthrough hosts a Christmas Store which provides families in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood, as well as Breakthrough's homeless guests, a dignified way to purchase gifts for their loved ones. Through generous donations, those who shop in the Breakthrough Christmas Store are able to purchase new items at a discounted rate, or through the "Breakthrough Bucks" program. 

Breakthrough needs lots of donations to make the store happen. The biggest items on their Christmas Store wish list are basic necessities like socks, slippers and coats. Here's their complete Wish List:
  • underwear, socks and slippers
  • winter coats and boots
  • hats, gloves and scarves
  • foot and hand warmers
  • toys, games, play-doh sets and legos
  • nerf basketball hoops
  • children's movies
  • electronics: mp3 players and ipods
  • sports balls and equipment
  • gift wrapping supplies: tape, scissors, gift tags, sharpies ribbons and wrapping paper
This year's Christmas Store is scheduled for Saturday, 12/14.  Please deliver unwrapped gift and any wrapping supplies to the Breakthrough Ministry Center (402 N St. Louis Ave, Chicago, IL 60624) by 9 PM on Wednesday, 12/11 - you can also bring it with you to our BIG serve on Thursday, if you're volunteering for the Men's BIG Serve. (They also have an Amazon wish list on their site if you'd rather deliver it straight there - how convenient!) Need more info? Check out the complete details for the Christmas Store on Breakthrough's website here.

BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR
Breakthrough is a robust organization and they have lots of ways to get involved in all of the different things they do - like homeless intervention, fresh market, job readiness training and even kids programs. You should really come out to one of their Behind the Scenes Tours to learn more about the many ways that Breakthrough is reaching out to folks living on the west side of Chicago. Tours are on the first Monday of each month. For more information or to register for the tour,click here.
Thanks, everyone! Hope to see you soon!
Love and Hugs!

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