Dear fellow servants of Christ,
Please open your hearts this year because the need is great. We need many, many toys. We need you love for children to multiply into toys, food and money (checks can be made to: "Loaves & Fishes" and mailed to St. John the Wonderworker Orthodox Church). Please be a giver in this world where many suffer.
There are true stories of men (today) who have gone outside their own families to care about others who have no male capable of providing for them.
Story # 1:
This man's house burned down two nights before, but he still took the time to come bring this mother of five children to register her children for the "Loaves & Fishes" Christmas program. This man also helps the Loaves & Fishes Food program by delivering food for the poor of Atlanta. And this man himself is suffering because he has lost all of his personal belongings and did not have insurance.
Story #2:
This man works with a lady who is a grandmother to six children whose husband is very ill. One of her children became a widow recently and the other two are educationally and mentally handicapped. She is strectched to the limit and can barely afford the expense of gas to work as she commutes a long distance to work.
Story #3:
Another man is from Pakistan and has decided to commit to help a grandmother with ten grandchildren (see the photo of this family). He probably is not a Christian and see what his heart is doing to help the poor and needy.
As Orthodox Christians can't we do our part. Did not God the Father provide an earthly father, Joseph for his son, Jesus Christ. If our Lord, Jesus Christ needed a father (caretaker), don't we all need one. This year be a father, mother, brother or sister to as many children as you can. Remember the need is great. Is your heart as great? Please help and let the toys, food and money multiple, like our Lord's miracle of the "Loaves & Fishes".
These are especially helpful for the teenage children and we have many of them this year.
Also in lieu of gifts, checks can be made out to: Loaves & Fishes Food Program or a gift certificate can be purchased (Blockbusters, movie theaters, Best Buys, Old Navy, etc..). Please bring your gifts or checks to Carlos Hall or the Cathedral Sunday School office no later than Sunday, December 11th 2005 or directly to St. John the Wonderworker Orthodox Church.