With the upcoming holiday season soon to be upon us, Good Shepherd would like to wish you and yours the happiest of holidays with lots of turkey and gifts to fulfill all your family’s needs and wishes.

Most of us can probably remember going to grandparent’s homes or our own homes where we stuffed ourselves with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners so much that we had to undo our pant buttons just to be comfortable. And how many of us opened more presents at Christmas than we could even play with!

Unfortunately, there are many families living in our community who are less fortunate. There are seniors having to fend for themselves and parents working multiple jobs just to make ends meet in order to buy Christmas presents to create a memory. Like you, our hearts go out to those in need, not as a handout but a helping hand to provide for themselves and their families.

Community partners make our mission become a reality. With your partnership, we provide seniors who for some may be their last Thanksgiving, a Thanksgiving box. Your support makes possible a lasting Christmas memory for a child through our Elf Magic Program who otherwise might not receive that much but wished for a bike, doll, game or toy.

These holiday programs translate into Jesus with skin on. How can we ever share Jesus if we don’t first meet their physical needs? They provide people with a sense of dignity and pride. Dignity that allows the elderly to provide for their own. Dignity that enables a parent to take pride in being able to provide. Dignity that allows parents to create beautiful memories for their children.

For some children and parents alike, Elf Magic may have created such fond memories that giving back becomes a way of life and so the Ripple Effect grows creating waves that are unending.

We invite you to partner with us! Call us at 601-636-7687, ext.1 to find out how you can help or request a copy of the list of Thanksgiving food items needed to fill the baskets for the elderly.  Please email or call us if you would like to participate in collecting food items or with adopting children. Mark Mitchell or Felicia Thomas would be happy to assist. Better yet, come visit us and see the “New Face” of Good Shepherd.

Joyfully Serving,

Cindy McCarley, Good Shepherd Executive Director, and the Good Shepherd Family