BB Share A Gift
It’s the time of year again to actively partner with the Boys Brigade in contributing food to the needy. After volunteering as poster girls last year, we definitely wanted to continue this annual tradition of giving.
The girls were really enthusiastic, and K helped to choose four of every type of Ayam Brand Tuna (and 10 cans of sardines) to load into our cart. Then they helped this polite BB boy on duty load all the food into the box. Have a heart, share a gift!
Here’s a list of NTUC outlets where BB boys will be stationed to collect the foodstuff you buy!
This is the status as of Day 8 of their collection – as you can see, Halal canned food has the highest shortage, as usual! So go and sweep those shelves clean. You can see the latest ‘donation countdown’ status from their website home page here.
You can also volunteer to make deliveries – sign up here! Last year, we volunteered for the delivery service, and it was a great way to complete the chain, and bless the recipients personally. It was a very concrete way for the girls to see where the food was actually going to, as well. Do sign up if you can!
Angel Tree Project
This year, we decided to channel our delivery efforts to another meaningful initiative. Our church works closely with Prison Fellowship Singapore (PFS) which helps to transform those behind bars through bible studies and counselling, as well as help them integrate back into society and reconcile with their families, through the power of the cross.
Annually, PFS conducts the Angel Tree Project. I can’t put it any better, so here’s what it’s all about, as mentioned on their website:
The Angel Tree Project is about Hope, Transformation and Family Reconciliation.
Each year more than 1,000 inmates pen their letters to family members before the Christmas season. The remorse, love and longing to re-connect with loved ones is penned in letters and then translated into cards. Many inmates shared their new-found faith with their loved ones. The letters are pasted on Christmas cards and delivered with a hamper to the inmates’ spouse, parents and children. The hampers and letters, help to mend and restore relationships between the inmates and their families. Through the years, we have heard stories of family reconciliations mediated through the hampers and Christmas greetings from the inmates.
Angel Tree Christmas Hamper Programme is a great connect between a child or family member and the inmate in prison. It brings reconciliation, hope and joy. The programme also raises awareness amongst the community of the impact of imprisonment on inmates’ families.
Christmas approaches in a flash, and we need your help to send more than 1,000 hampers to about 900 families this year. Make this a season of joy and hope for these families.
Each hamper costs $70. Be a blessing to inmate and family by sponsoring the cost of hampers.
Here are some of the hampers that our church volunteered to deliver. Our family will be delivering just one of them. We were given a card with a hand-written note inside, and I feel so privileged to be carrying a personal message from someone to his loved one. Much more than the hamper of food, I’m sure this card is our most precious cargo.
As we were being thoroughly briefed on how to go about this project, I just felt glad that PFS is one of the major ministries of our church. I feel so proud that two of our pastors are former inmates and drug addicts, who have been totally transformed by the grace of Christ. (In fact, one of them shared that it was through this very Angel Tree Project that his mother came to know Christ, whilst he was still in prison.) Their very existence encourages me in my walk, since God’s power to change is so evident in their lives.
So it is apt that our church has also volunteered to welcome former inmates who are looking for a christian community to belong to, into our cell groups and into our community life. With pastors who were just like them, and who are living victoriously for decades, I hope they feel very welcome and inspired too.
Christmas is a season of new life – God came that we might have life, and live it to the fullest. I hope you have a very meaningful Christmas this year!
Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them.
1 Tim. 6:18
Indeed, Christmas is a season of giving and showing love. What a great way to teach your kids such important values! 🙂
We only do it annually for now, but hopefully it soon becomes second nature to the kids!
Oh wow, this is such a powerful testimony for God’s love and grace for your church pastors and the benefactors of the Angel Tree Project! It’s lovely to see you encouraging your family to be part of this campaign too, Lyn 🙂
Aww thanks Danessa. We just feel privileged to be able to join in their work this way. We just delivered the hamper and card yesterday, and after she accepted it I just felt quite emotionally overwhelmed. So many people have such difficult lives, and complicated issues that we can scarcely imagine. I hope the note brought reconciliation and healing in a small way.
2 very rewarding causes to give too. It’s also very inspirational to see and know people who have been personally touched by the causes. If possible, you should ask your pastors to share their stories on your blog 🙂 I’m sure it will help reach more former inmates who are looking for a Christian community to be part of.
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Yes, maybe I will. Asked one of them in the past to share but think he was a bit shy… Plus Prison Fellowship Singapore is already communicating our church’s position to those who will be coming out soon. 🙂
Christmas is a meaningful season and you have made it even more meaningful for your family to participate in this process of giving. Thank you for sharing on the boys brigade project! There’s boys brigade at my church but we didn’t know they were doing this! 🙂
Vivien ( Beautiful Chaos )
Thanks – do chat with them about it! All the BB coys are involved so I’m sure they are too. They’ll appreciate your support! 🙂
Lovely post! What a good way to inculculate the teachings of giving, especially during this joyous season.
Thanks – we are glad for this chance to participate, since sometimes we want to try to help but don’t know where to start, what is appropriate and easy enough for the kids to handle and relate to at this age.
Wow Wow Wow! Thanks for sharing! I will need to have the kids a little older to do this! hahah Can’t wait!
I think they will enjoy sitting amidst the goods in a shopping trolley even now! 🙂
We’ve participated in the BB Share a gift for the last few years but this year I’m thinking that I might not be able to do deliveries this year (because there’s no space in the car for BB boys now that we have 3 kids in carseats) – but I guess that doesn’t stop us from donating in kind at the collection points at NTUC!
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Yup, it’s a great practical giving opportunity. Great that those living overseas can even give online!
This is super meaningful!! I never knew about the BB Share A Gift initiative till I read it in your blog. I’m definitely going to check it out!
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Oh so happy to hear that I’ve introduced someone new to this initiative! 🙂
The Angel Tree Project is so meaningful…to be able to be a messenger of God’s peace, grace and love to those who need them most this festive season…to help convey the handwritten notes of the inmates to their loved ones. How powerful that act of service…We too hope to continue supporting the BB-Share-A-Gift as a family.
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That’s great to hear! I was just wondering, there’s probably someone that ‘underwrites’ all the ‘missing goods’ every year, so BB always hits the target. Which is cool too!