Partner with a local Out-of-Home Care organisation at Christmas time.

Christmas is a season of generosity. In response to the ultimate gift of Jesus, many churches mobilise their members to contribute towards being a blessing to those in their community that might be doing it tough. If your church runs an annual Christmas Appeal, this is such a great opportunity to partner with a local foster or kinship care organisation.

For children in Foster Care, even if they’re in a family home where they’re receiving care and love, they’re experiencing change and loss during a season that often puts a spotlight on ‘family,’ so it might not be very jolly, or feel like it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Families who have welcomed a child or young person into their home might be struggling to cover the financial costs involved, as well as provide a Christmas meal and give everyone a gift to celebrate this special season.

Your church can communicate a message of love and support to children and young people in care, Foster carers, Kinship carers, or birth families, via a community organisation who is working to serve them.

Lifehouse Church in Coffs Harbour opens a pop-up Christmas toy shop, where church members contribute gifts or donations, so parents from the community who are doing it tough can choose a quality gift for their children at an affordable price.

Hillsong Church partners with a number of Out-of-Home Care organisations across Australia through their ‘Kilo of Christmas’ campaign, where church members donate towards food hampers and gift packs and volunteer at ‘pack and wrap’ parties to prepare the items for delivery.

This is a great way to direct your church’s generosity and work in partnership with community organisations, to be a blessing within the Out-of-Home Care space at Christmas time.

(Many Out-of-Home Care organisations run their own Christmas appeals and this could be another way for your church to contribute).

There are so many ways, both big and small, that you can support those involved in Out-of-Home Care. The Homeward Project wants to partner with your church to equip you to develop a holistic ministry that makes a significant and sustainable difference in your local community. Learn more here or get in touch at hello@homewardproject.org