In 2015, 24 United Methodist churches donated over 1,100 gift bags, 200 gift cards, and toys to 14 sites through the Sidewalk Sunday School Christmas Project. Children who received the gifts expressed gratitude and excitement, highlighting the project's impact. The 2016 project aims to bring similar joy by involving churches, volunteers, and donors to fill bags and donate $20 gift cards for over 1,100 children. Commitments are requested by October 24th and donations should be delivered by November 28th.

1. Sidewalk Sunday
School Christmas
Project 2016…
…with a look back at
2015

2. In 2015, twenty four (24) United Methodist churches joined
together to donate:
• 1,168 filled gift bags
• 221 gift cards
• numerous stuffed animals,
and a lot of miscellaneous toys
The items went to 14 sites.

3. 2015 Smiles

4. Meleni remarked: “It’s really fun (Sidewalk Sunday
School) and they make fun stuff, take care of you
and feed you. The gift bags mean that they really
care about me and want me to have lots of fun.”
When asked about the gift bag she would
receive, a young girl named Jocelyn said,
“I am thankful for what I get and what
they mean to me. I like coming to
Sidewalk Sunday School”.
“Look Mama! I got Play Doh”, one young child was heard to exclaim with a
big smile on her face. Whether it is Play Doh or some other toy, it’s the
smiles and excitement on the children’s faces that makes the Sidewalk
Christmas Project worthwhile.

5. Fabrice: Awesome!
TaeShawn: I like getting toys for Christmas.
Out of the mouths of babes………………

6. Mary Santibanez and
her three children,
plus one additional
Sidewalk child.
Mary’s children attend Sidewalk
Sunday School. Mary helps the
Sidewalk staff, and her husband
has even helped to keep the
Sidewalk truck running.

7. More Sidewalk smiles

9. Sidewalk “kids” writing on cupcakes - a letter to stand for some act of
kindness they plan to carry out.

12. To make the smiles……………

13. It takes volunteers who sort and
check the bags………

15. … and volunteers or Site Directors who pick up the bags and
deliver them to the sites…………..

16. … and volunteers who help distribute the bags.

17. The results: Smiles on many
children’s faces and smiles on
those who helped.

18. It also takes YOU and/or your group, whether it be your
Sunday School class, your mission committee, United
Methodist Women or another group, to fill the bags for
over 1,100 children and their families who attend
Sidewalk Sunday School.
The next several slides will give the details for the
Christmas Project 2016.

19. Christmas 2016

20. Create a smile………
……fill a gift bag.

21. Types Of Bags Are Important
Purchase paper or cloth bags in the appropriate size that come
decorated for Christmas or plain red or green ones. Decorated
bags for birthdays or other holidays are not appropriate.
Note: cloth bags are much sturdier than paper and have
additional uses by the child or the family. The cost of these are
more expensive – thus, it is not a requirement to use them,
merely a suggestion. Information on ordering them in bulk is
available should you be interested.

22. Bag Size Is Important
Please use the appropriate sizes – anything received that is not an
approved size will be re-distributed to appropriate size bags.
 Bags should be no smaller than 8 across by 10 high ………………
………… and no larger than 10 across by 13 high
The width of the bag will vary according to manufacture.
If oversized bags are received we will re-distribute the items into
appropriate size bags.

23. Use these size bags
only, please…
10 x 13 tall
8 by 10 tall

24. Not these….
13 x 16 tall
Wider than tall
7 x 9 tall
or any other size that is not the approved size.

25. Thanks for understanding on the bag sizes. We try to
keep all the bags as similar in size as we can. Obviously
it wouldn’t be fair to give one child a bag that is a lot
larger than the ones the other children are receiving –
nor would it be good to give one that is a lot smaller,
even if the contents are more expensive.

26. If you have participated in the Christmas Project prior to
2015, please note these were the changes made in 2015.
The age groupings were changed. Please note these
changes, fill the bags accordingly and mark the tags
appropriately
Everyone is asked to use the same gift tags – a template
will be provide. Please tie the tags on – no staples, tapes or
pins.
Children ages 11 & 12 will receive gift cards instead of bags.

27. Age Categories
Use (only) the following three age categories when filling and
tagging the bags.
 Ages 3 to 4
 Ages 5 to 7
 Ages 8 to 10
Bags may be for either a girl or a boy but must be marked
according to the gender and age the bag is intended.

28. Suggested Gift Items For Ages 3 to 10
Anything fun that a child would like!!
Please determine what is appropriate for the selected age.
crayons coloring books anything art related
markers small toys comic books, story books
cards game cards games small hand held games
puzzles dolls balls
activity books match box cars Beanie babies
Christmas pens/pencils Christmas socks jacks, marbles
jump ropes hair items bubbles
Nerf toys sports memorabilia small stuffed animals
sports cards/trading Christian items (cross, jewelry, books)

29. Miscellaneous Important Instructions
 Do not include monetary gift cards in the bags.
 Bags need to be well filled. There is no set dollar
amount for the contents, however, the bags do
need to be full. Share the joy of filling the bags
by having more than one person purchase items
for a bag, if necessary.

30.  Make sure the items are NEW, not broken and that
all parts are included.
 Please, no weapon type toys or anything that can
be used as or resembles a weapon such as swords,
squirt guns, etc.

31.  Candy is permissible for the children 5 to 10.
Please no hard candy for the 3 to 4 year olds. (or
toys with small parts)
 Please, no chocolates or peanut candies or any
candy left over from a previous holiday such as
Halloween or Easter

32.  Items in the bags are not to be wrapped and
nothing should be attached to the outside of the
bags. Tissue paper on top of the gift items is okay.
 If giving color books, please include crayons. Water
color books need brushes. Flashlights need
batteries. Etc. Please give the related item to
make the gift “useable”. Often the children don’t
have money to purchase the needed item.

33. $20 Walmart Gift Cards
This year all children and youth from the age 11 on up
will be given $20 Walmart gift cards.
We have several churches which donate the
cards. Please ask if more are needed before
deciding to donate cards rather than filled bags.

34. Miscellaneous Gift Items
On occasion we are asked to provide a few items for newborns or young
babies. Any items donated of this nature should be above and beyond
the regular giving of filled gift bags for ages 3 to 10 and the $20 gift cards.
We are not actively seeking gift bags for babies but welcome a
miscellaneous item or two.
We do give toddlers who attend Sidewalk Sunday School with their
siblings medium size stuffed animals. This year we are not actively
seeking donations of these items, but will accept any that are donated
above and beyond the regular filling of bags, cards, etc.

35. Create a smile…..
…..make a commitment.

36. Commitment Date
 Churches and individuals are asked to make their commitment to fill
bags and donate gift cards by October 24, 2016. Commitments
prior to that date are encourage and appreciated.
 Please contact Bev Secrist at bevsecrist@cox.net to make an
individual or church group commitment, or for more information on
the project.
 It is suggested that all who plan to fill bags view this slide show or be
given a list of specific instructions which are available from Bev at the
above email address. Copies of this slide show are available upon
request.

37. Delivery Dates & Locations
 Churches in the Phoenix area will be asked to deliver their filled
bags and donations to the United Methodist Conference Center at
1550 E. Meadowbrook, Phoenix, 85014. All donations must be
delivered on November 28 between the hours of 9:30 AM and
3:00 PM. Thanks for understanding.
Due to inadequate storage space this is the
only time items can be accepted.

38. • Churches in the South District area will be asked to
deliver their donations to a location in Tucson. Place
and date to be determined.
• Churches in the North District area will have a
specific location(s) to deliver their donations. Place
and date to be determined.

39. Dates to remember……
 Commitment – no later than October 24, 2016
 Delivery date in Phoenix – November 28, 2016
between 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM to the United
Methodist Conference Center at 1550 E.
Meadowbrook, Phoenix
 North and South District delivery dates and locations --
TBA

40. • There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a happy and smiling child. A child's smile is worth
more than all the money in the world. -Lionel Messi
• Be the reason someone smiles today. -Unknown
• The catch phrase for the day is 'Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.‘ -Harvey Ball
• A child's smile is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. - Unknown
• There’s nothing more touching than putting a smile on a kid's face when you can. - Emma Roberts
• A child's smile is one of life's greatest blessings. -Unknown
• A smile from a child is packaged sunshine and rainbows. -Unknown

41. Thank you to all who
made 2015
Christmas smiles,
and to all who will
help in 2016.

42. Individual pictures taken with permission.
For more information on the Christmas Project contact Bev Secrist at bevsecrist@cox.net
The end!