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What is
the Giving Tree?
The Giving Tree is
yet another program at St. Luke where parishioners give back to the
Delaware Valley anonymously. It is a bridge that quietly links the
Saint Luke Community with one of the poorest communities of children
in Pennsylvania. Since 1999, with the initiative of Sonya Pappas,
the Saint Luke parishioners have anonymously provided over 5,748
beautifully handwapped gifts to the young children living in the
four public housing communities in Chester. Some with notes
attached, many with candy and all with love.
Each Thanksgiving
Giving Trees, decorated with the names and ages of the children, are
located in the narthex of Saint Luke so that parishioners, young and
old, can select a child or two. In addition, For Those In Need, a
community service group of Saint Luke, sponsors an entire community
buying on average 180 gifts. These gifts are then wrapped by the
Saint Luke GOYANs at their annual Christmas celebration.
Within days of
Christmas -- the gifts journey to Chester and Maria Zissimos, legal
counsel for the housing authority, coordinates their delivery to the
communities, where the gifts are received with sincere gratitude and
appreciation. In some communities Santa delivers the gifts from a
large sleigh as the highlight of their Christmas party, in others,
parents place them under their trees on Christmas Eve.
The program has
grown since its early days based on the simple love and generosity
of each parishioner.
Please view our GOYAns wrapping The Giving Tree gifts and their
Christmas Caroling at the Nursing Home. The video and entire
interview was graciously conducted by our friends at Cosmos Philly.
In addition to the video, our friends at Cosmos Philly have also
included many pictures on their
facebook page.
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