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Church grants Christmas wishes because 'this is what community is'

Every year, CrossTrainers Ministries offers a Christmas dinner and tries to get wish-list items for its clients and their families

Ten years ago, CrossTrainers Ministries first introduced the idea of a Wish List Christmas for residents who relied on its services, like the Hand-Up Clothing Room.

The Hand-up Clothing Room, located in the St. Mary’s Building on Frederick Street, has aimed to help people struggling to make ends meet – providing everything from basic household items to clothes for men, women and children. 

Users are referred by a local service agency or individual, and immediately welcomed by CrossTrainers volunteers. They become part of a family, and, at Christmas, were invited to enjoy a Christmas dinner at the school.

Reali’s No Frills made a huge donation of food for the annual Christmas Dinner, of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and vegetables, and donors and volunteers came out to support the annual event. Among the volunteer servers were members of CrossTrainers, the Hand-up Clothing Room, The Hub Youth Centre, members of Bradford Baptist Church. They were joined by Mayor Rob Keffer and Deputy Mayor James Leduc.

“God provides all these things,” said Jenna Wickens, Youth Director at CrossTrainers. “If it weren’t for God’s provision, through various people, we wouldn’t be here.”

But the Christmas Wish List Dinner, started a decade ago, went beyond dinner and a generic gift. What if clients were treated as real family, and asked for their actual Christmas wishes – the one thing each one wanted most? What if those wishes could be filled by an act of generosity?

Volunteers at CrossTrainers’ Hand-Up Clothing Room began asking each client - from recently arrived immigrants, to residents on social assistance - what they would really like for Christmas. Then the public was invited to adopt a wish or donate the funds to help make those wishes real.

Every wish was met.

And every year, the number of people registering for the Christmas Wish List Dinner has grown.

“Last year we planned for 80. We had 110 show up,” said Patti LaRose, co-founder of CrossTrainers. This year, 167 people registered for the Christmas Wish program. “It’s pretty awesome.”

Thanks to the generosity of the Bradford West Gwillimbury community, not only were all of the wishes met, enough funding came in to ensure that gift cards could be provided for anyone who didn’t register but showed up for the dinner.

The list of Christmas wishes was heart-breaking, said LaRose. While some asked for tablets and video games, “one person asked for cleaning supplies,” she said. “Winter coats and boots – that’s probably the majority.”

“They’re so happy just to get the necessities,” said volunteer John Grogan. “We don’t realize how lucky we are. We take it for granted, all of the time. This is what Christmas is all about. And everybody’s having fun, too.”

Doors were set to open at the St. Mary’s Hall at 6:30 p.m., but guests began lining up at 4:30 p.m.

There were Lindor chocolates at every table setting in a room decorated for Christmas. On the raised stage, gift bags and wrapped presents were neatly organized in rows, each labelled with a name and number – to be distributed once the dinner of turkey and all the trimmings, pumpkin pie and whipped cream was cleared away.

“You can’t forget this, just because the boundaries are getting bigger. This is what community is, and you can’t forget that,” said volunteer Sharon Muncey.

“This was a pleasure. I loved doing this,” said Leduc, after delivering the last plate of seconds to the guests. “The fun you have – very organized chaos!”

Not everyone who registered for a gift was able to attend the Dec. 9 dinner. They will be able to pick up their gifts on Dec. 11 at the Connections Centre (St. Mary’s Building).

“Here’s why we do it: because we love you. We legit want you to know Jesus,” said CrossTrainers Ministries co-founder Jodi Greenstreet, adding the annual Christmas Party, the fulfilment of the Christmas wishes, the outpouring of generosity from the community all begin with God and Jesus. But, she noted, there’s no compulsion to believe, or “sign up.”

It’s all done for love, said Greenstreet. “I just want you to know my heart.”

For more information on Hand-Up Clothing Room, The Hub Youth Centre and the Connections Centre of CrossTrainers, see ctministries.ca.


Miriam King

About the Author: Miriam King

Miriam King is a journalist and photographer with Bradford Today, covering news and events in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil.
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