Passing the Basket

One of the largest outreach programs that I coordinate at the Allison Park Church site is the Give-A-Gift program. In 2006, we served 75 shoppers and provided 3-4 gifts to 191 children. In 2007, our goal is to increase those numbers.

Every year it gets a little tense in the weeks before the event as the Give-A-Gift team scrambles to gather gift donations and schedule shoppers. We always want to serve as many shoppers as possible, but then “What if we don’t receive enough gifts?” The tension level rises because the “shopper/donation factor” is not easily managed and ultimately out of our control. We do our best to promote the event to potential shoppers and contributors, then we try to manage what comes in.

As I worked with our Give-A-Gift team this year, attempting to balance the shopper/donation factor, I was struck by a God-thought. In the scriptures, there is a well known story of a crowd of people being fed with a boy’s lunch - a couple of fishes & loaves of bread. Evidently this lunch was not enough to feed the large crowd of 5,000, but Jesus instructs his disciples to pass the basket of food. What I realized is that in coordinating and volunteering for the Give-A-Gift outreach, we have the opportunity to experience what the disciples experienced that day.

Imagine with me how the disciples felt as they stood before the large crowd, holding a small basket, containing a small amount of food. I can imagine how incredulous they must have looked, as they turned to look back at Jesus in order to make sure they understood him correctly. I can only imagine how it felt to pass the basket to the first person (with a brave smile) and see that first puzzled face look up from the basket with questioning eyes. Can‘t you see the disciple shrugging his shoulders and saying “Go ahead, take some for yourself and pass the basket”. I‘m sure the scene was repeated many times as the disciple watched the basket being passed. The biblical account states that everyone in the crowd ate their fill and when the disciple received the basket back - there were leftovers!

The amazing coordinators and volunteers with the Network of Hope do the best that they can to gather gifts and schedule shoppers. Once they’ve done the best they know to do, they have the opportunity to pass the basket and watch a miracle happen. What a privilege!!

Weekend of "Two's"

What a great weekend for NOH!

2 Give A Gift Events happened in Valencia and Allison Park. Over 300 children will receive many gifts this Christmas. Five more events to go between now and Dec 18th!

2 Benefit Concerts happened as well--in Gibsonia and the North Hills. The combined effort brought in more than 40 garbage bag-fuls of gifts and over $1200 in cash and gift cards!

I was personally at the Johnny Angel & Friends concert and it was fantastic! What a great show filled with energy, entertainment and true talent. Words fail about how enjoyable it was!

THANK YOU to the PERFORMERS who shared their time and talent. Show your thanks by supporting them in the future. Just visit their websites for upcoming performances.
Greater Harmony Chorus
Jana Snavely
Johnny Angel & the Halos
Mike Profozich
Pete Hewlett
William Dell & Wee Jams

THANK YOU also to the MANY VOLUNTEERS who have done so much before and during the events to make them successful. You are the hands and feet that turn a good idea into a reality.

Greater Harmony Chorus

Donna Knapp is a former employee of NOH and long-time member of the Greater Harmony Chorus, an award-winning Sweet Adeline International chorus. They have been generous supporters of NOH and this year their giving continues as they present "Harmonize the Holidays," a free concert for family and friends.

Admission is free, and they will be collecting toys and cash donations to benefit the Give-A-Gift program.

The show starts this Saturday, December 8th, at 7:30 PM at Richland Elementary School in Gibsonia.

Come out to sing along and help a family in need this holiday!

Remembering

John Szymanski (1931-2007), our food bank coordinator for many years, passed away on Sunday, December 2nd after a long, good fight with cancer. Today I attended his Celebration of Life service, which some call a funeral. The former is much more appropriate for this one who lived fully and lived well before us all. It was a touching time surrounded by fondness as we recalled all that he represented, all he had done and all that he will now experience in his new, whole life.

I wish there was time to write all that John has meant to me and others, but these are a few of the words that immediately come to mind about this authentic man: love, integrity, knowledge, compassion, sacrifice, selflessness, service, committment, kindness, humor, gentleness, faith, strength, wisdom, community, empathy and hope.

Maybe you'd like to post a comment about John as an act of modern remembrance. Please join us in this celebration of one with whom we are fortunate to have been associated.

Johnny Angel & the Halos Concert Gift Drive

Holiday music is one of the best parts of this season, so we're bringing just that to you, this weekend, from some of Pittsburgh's best talent.

JOHNNY ANGEL & THE HALOS, Pete Hewlett, Bill Dell & Wee Jams, and Jana Snavely are GENEROUSLY donating their time and talent as part of a concert gift drive to support the Network of Hope's Give A Gift program.

Admission is FREE-we just ask that you bring a NEW, unwrapped gift (no stuffed animals, please) for infants, kids or teens. We particularly need gifts for older kids and teens.

Doors open at 5:15 PM. Enjoy the sounds of the season while helping a family in need.

Hope to see you there!