7 minute read
Community: Coronado Gives Back
BY DAVID THROOP
It’s that special time of year again. The holidays cast a special effect on us, we resolve ourselves in the actions of our better angels. It’s a time for making memories with friends, and loved ones, to share in the moment and to celebrate the season. It’s a period for reflection of all that is important and all that we cherish. But for some, the holidays are a reminder of what they lack, of what they don’t have or what may have been lost. For them, the holidays can be difficult and stressful. That’s where the generosity of others can make a huge impact. In the spirit of the holidays, here’s our list of organizations working to make a difference for families in need.
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Holiday Outreach at Christ Church
Outreach is fundamental to those who worship at Christ Church and is a core philosophy for the congregation to give back to those in need. The holiday season brings the annual “Bridging Love and Service” program and is more than just a catch-phrase at Christ Church. With participation from parish and day school families and partnering with St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in City Heights, Uptown Faith located at St. Luke’s in North Park, and other agencies, the donations range from food to money. The donations are used to assemble 150 bags of Thanksgiving fixings and a turkey grocery gift card.
Another program that Christ Church develops during the start of Advent season is the beginning of the annual Advent Angel program. The program strives to collect nearly 100 gifts of toys and books collected for children who are served by the Episcopal Community Services South Bay Head Start program. This Head Start program provides educational opportunities for children ages 3-5 years and resources for their families to help in early childhood development.
Christ Episcopal Church
1114 Ninth Street | Coronado, CA 92118 | (619) 435-4561 | christchurchcoronado.org
Graham Memorial Preschool Working with SD MOM
At Graham Memorial, the holiday giving program focuses on giving to those who serve others through enlistment in the Armed Services. In a military town like San Diego, there are many people stationed far from home and may not have the ability to travel during the holidays. Partnering with San Diego Military Outreach Ministries, Graham Memorial works to make the holidays special and comforting for those and their loved ones stationed far from home.
There are two primary programs for the youth volunteers at Graham Memorial. During November, the efforts are for participating volunteers to donate time and treasure to prepare and distribute Thanksgiving meals to junior enlisted military personnel and their families. The goal is to make these families dislocated because their station orders enjoy a little slice of a typical Thanksgiving.
For the Christmas holiday period, the program’s effort is to collect new socks, all of which are donated by our Graham Memorial families. These donations are part of a larger project to assist families with Christmas gifts. The sock donations are distributed at a holiday “shopping” event held at Graham Memorial, and families can shop and pick out a few things, books, clothes, toys, etc. for their children. The socks are given to all the families whether they wish to “holiday shop” or not.
Graham Memorial Preschool
949 C Avenue | Coronado, CA 92118 | (619) 435-2182 | https://gmpc.org/preschool/
Sacred Heart’s Paradise Tree Benefits Birthline of San Diego
The annual Paradise Tree at Sacred Heart is the current iteration of an 11th Century play known as the Paradise Play. The play’s themes depict Adam and Eve’s creation and the actions that led toward their eventual expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The tree in the play, known as the “Paradise Tree,” was a Fir tree, adorned with red apples to symbolize the bounty of the Garden of Eden. In the current tradition, the Paradise Tree is decorated with red to represent Adam and Eve’s sins. At the same time, white ornaments symbolize the promise of forgiveness in the promise of God sending a savior to the world. During the Paradise Tree Trimming Service, students decorate the tree before the gift donation period. During the service and honoring the tradition of giving to the baby Jesus, Sacred Heart parishioners place gifts under the tree as a donation for those in need. The gifts are donated to Birthline of San Diego, a local resource for expectant mothers and families in need of assistance with pregnancy tests, counseling, clothes for babies and young children, as well as baby food and other necessities.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
655 C Avenue ,Coronado, CA 92118 | (619) 435-3167 sacredheartcor.org
Every year St. Paul’s United Methodist Church partners with area programs to assist those in need to make the holiday season special.
One of the themes for St. Paul’s during Advent this year is to help ease the uncertainty stemming from the COVID-19 Pandemic, especially food insecurity that has risen dramatically. In the past, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church partnered with The Good Neighbor Center to provide Christmas gifts for families in need through their Angel Tree program. This year St. Paul’s has again partnered with Nestor United Methodist Church in Imperial Beach to support their outreach ministry, The Good Neighbor Center, to benefit families experiencing food insecurity.
The project’s goal is for St Paul’s congregants to create and donate 80 New Beginnings Boxes throughout the Advent season. The project is that each day during Advent, families will donate one different food item to the box to create a feast for families. The objective is to make the holiday’s just a little more normal this year. Donations for these New Beginnings Boxes run through Advent. They will be delivered to Nestor Church just before New Years Day, allowing underserved families in the Imperial Beach community to feel a sense of love and celebration.
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
700 D Ave | Coronado, CA 92118 | (619)435-5691 | stpaulsmethodist.com
Amanda Russell and Creative Affairs Inc. Brings Christmas Cheer To Those in Need
With the close of 2020 coming quickly, the inspiration to assist those in need during Christmas and the holiday season has taken new importance. With the difficulties the year has been on everyone, especially those who have suffered a job loss, there is an added need to assist where possible. Every year Amanda works with counselors at local San Diego schools to identify and find families in need who would, most likely, due to various financial difficulties, can’t celebrate a traditional Christmas. Working with local families, we work for donations of toys, clothes, and cash to ease the burdens for those in need.
Last year, 122 local families contributed to the Christmas Giving program and $25,570 was raised with $2,000 in new tablets, clothes, and toys that were given out. In all, Amanda was able to give 35 children and 14 parents a Christmas to celebrate. The parents submitted wish lists for clothes and toys purchased from the cash donations, and a team of volunteers donate their time and individually wrap them before they are distributed.
The program will be collecting donations until December 10th. You may donate one of the following ways:
Monetary donations can be made by either Venmo or Check: Check Payable to: Amanda Russell 731 G Ave. Coronado, CA 92118
Venmo: amanda1977 (619) 993-0710 | Email: amanda@creativeaffairsinc.com • David Throop is a freelance writer from Coronado who now lives in Imperial Beach with his wife and child.
(This Photo) Amanda's 8 year old daughter Grace helping make Christmas extra special. (Left) Best Christmas ever.
crowncitymagazine.com
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT 906
Art by CHS Senior Shannon McLaughlin
Coronado Historical Association volunteers, Judy and Doug Clarke, driving the Hotel del Coronado’s Laundry Truck in Coronado’s Holiday Parade in December of 2019. This classic Ford Model T acquired by CHA in 2007 delivered laundry for The Del from 1923-1930. Photo Credit: Christopher Canton
