Christmas Basket Ministry for St Joseph on the Rio Grande,

The Christmas Basket committee has been praying about, brainstorming, and exploring ways to be able to provide for the families that this ministry helps each year, particularly because we know that the pandemic has probably made things harder for everyone. We looked at several options that might have allowed us to provide help this year, but with the number of cases of COVID-19 in the state still high, we have decided that, much as we don’t want to do it, we will not be doing Christmas Baskets 2020. We could not find a way to safely (for us in the parish or for the families receiving the baskets) to raise funds, assemble and deliver the food baskets this year, nor could we run an Angel Tree because of attendance and social-distancing limits….as well as the inability to do deliveries safely for both our parishioners and the families receiving the gifts.

We encourage you to continue to Feed Christ’s Lambs by taking the funds you would have given to support Christmas Baskets and the Angel Tree and donating them to groups like St. Vincent de Paul and the Good Shepherd Center.  Also, please put the non-perishable groceries you would have given to Christmas Baskets into the Loaves and Fish bin. We do plan to return stronger with Christmas Baskets in 2021!  In the meantime, may God bless you and keep you safe.

Yours in Christ,
Kevin and Elizabeth Slimak, Dorothy Tomlenson