’Tis the season for helping, healing

Many ministries and organizations are welcoming donations of money or items for people in need this holiday season. Here are a few ideas to help: 

Sanctuary Women’s Development Center
Sanctuary supports women and children who are homeless or living in poverty with basic needs like a shower and laundry facilities, food and hygiene pantries, and classes on life skills.

Donations of children’s clothing and toys – both new and used items in good condition – can be taken to the center, located at 2133 S.W. 11 in Stockyards City. Moms will get to choose items to give their children. Single women will be given a purse filled with makeup, cologne and costume jewelry, so those items also are needed, Director Jessica Nuno said.

Sanctuary also is seeking donations of blankets, hats, gloves and scarves. “We want to help everyone who walks through the door have a blessed Christmas and be warm,” Nuno said. “We will probably see more this year because of COVID.”

To stock the day shelter with hygiene supplies, laundry soap and snacks people can donate gift cards for Amazon, Walmart and Sam’s Club. Gas gift cards for clients always are needed too, Nuno said.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Catholic Charities supports families who have been impacted by COVID, refugees needing resettlement and children in need. They always are in need of diapers, blankets and formula.

Visit catholiccharitiesok.org or coordinate drop-off by calling Kim Mizar at (405) 523-3000. 

Gospel of Life Dwellings (GOLD)
GOLD in Oklahoma City, Moore and Grand Prairie, Texas, rely on donations and volunteers to provide a home and life-affirming care to elders in need.

Sister Maria Faulkner, founder, said gifts both large and small are needed to support the mission. One current need is a new or used handicapped-accessible van.

At the Saint John Paul II Dwelling for the Dying in Moore, two ovens must be replaced. The home also needs another bathroom and an above-ground, wheelchair-accessible tornado shelter, Sister Maria said.

Smaller gifts include items on the residents’ wish lists. They can be found at gospeloflifedisciples.org/donate.

One 94-year-old resident recently got to check “ride a train” off of his bucket list after a group trip on the Heartland Flyer for a day of barbecue and fun at the Fort Worth Zoo, Sister Maria said. 

Volunteers are needed to help with outdoor work and to serve as on-call helpers to give the 14 live-in, full-time volunteers a break with laundry, cleaning and cooking, she said. Gift cards for those volunteers would be appreciated so they can treat themselves to something for Christmas.

“The other thing would be to pray for the mission and fortitude for all the individuals involved, as well as protection from the COVID virus for our elderly,” Sister Maria said. 

The Center of Family Love
The usual parties and gifts provided by visitors cannot happen this year at The Center of Family Love because of COVID-19 safety precautions.

“We had to be creative and think of a different way we can bring Christmas to our residents,” Philanthropy Manager Caroline Stringer said. 

The ministry is home to 130 intellectually and physically disabled adults who live on the Okarche campus and at group homes in Kingfisher and El Reno. Individuals, groups and parishes can help offset the cost of Christmas through various levels of giving. 

A gift of $200 will provided decorations, refreshments and activities for a party for one building. A $75 gift will fulfill one resident’s Christmas wish list. Smaller gifts will help purchase indoor lights and decorations so “every inch of each building is filled with Christmas joy,” Stringer said.

Another way to support residents and share Christmas joy is to purchase poinsettias from the facility’s Garden Center. Go to centeroffamilylove.org/poinsettias for details. Deliveries will be made through Dec. 23.

Infant Crisis Services
Infant Crisis Services is seeking donations to expand its BabyMobile program. The mobile pantry delivers formula, food and diapers for children from birth to 3 years old in 20 counties. One visit provides families with a one-week supply of diapers, plus formula or food. A gift of $40 covers one visit, while $150 sponsors one child’s BabyMobile visits for a year. Go to infantcrisis.org to learn more.

Coat-a-Kid 
Coat-a-Kid raises money year-round. A gift of $20 buys one child a winter coat. Go to okckids.com/programs/coat-a-kid for details. Students in need will be given coats, gloves, hats and scarves. 

K.S. McNutt is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.

Photo: Sr. Maria Faulkner visits with Gospel of Life Dwellings resident Trish. Photo provided.