Last December 22, Vineyard Boise received two rather unusual pieces of mail. Both had been addressed to
"Santa Claus, North Pole."
Unable to deliver these letters to Santa himself, post office workers apparently did what they thought was the next best thing: They routed them to the Vineyard."
We all thought it was pretty incredible that someone at the post office would send people's needs to us, thinking that we could help them experience the spirit of Christmas," said Lori Thompson, one of the church office workers who received the letters.
"Her co-worker, Cissi Jones, echoed that sentiment: "I was blessed to know that even the post office understands the heart of the Vineyard for giving."
With funds contributed by the church staff, Lori and Cissi went to the store and purchased gifts for the two families.
"We just went down their wish lists and made sure they got everything they asked for," Lori
said.
Later that day, Joe Head showed up at the church dressed as Santa Claus. His schedule was free, and he agreed to deliver the gifts to two families."
I felt just like it was 'Miracle on 34th Street,'" Lori
said.
Although the Vineyard gives back to the community all year long, its giving efforts increase dramatically during the holiday season. Benevolence director Amy Dietrich estimates that more than 200 people participate in at least one of the church's holiday giving
opportunities.
One of those opportunities - Operation Christmas Child
- has already come and gone. People in the Vineyard collected toys, school supplies and personal hygiene items for about 150 kids. The gifts were packaged in shoe boxes and will be delivered to children around the world with the help of Samaritan's Purse, an international relief organization run by Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's
son.
Although time has run out for Operation Christmas Child, three other holiday giving programs are still going on: Project Angel Tree, Adopt-A-Family and Holiday Meals.
"They're just special ways for our congregation to share Christmas with others," Amy said.
"It blesses the families who receive help, and it blesses the families who give, too."
"The great thing about all these projects is that everyone can participate according to their own budget," Amy
said.
