Do the kids in your life get excited to make Christmas wish lists every year? Children who live in poverty get just as excited for Christmas — even if some of their wishes differ from your family’s.
As Christians we recognize that Christmas is not about presents or wish lists. It’s about Jesus coming to earth to save humanity from sin. But in the spirit of giving and receiving, gifts do add to children’s excitement for the holiday. And for children in our program, some gifts they receive at their Compassion centers can provide relief to their struggling families.
Our church partners are already working hard to buy children what they need and want this Christmas. They’re shopping to fulfill the sometimes unspoken wish lists of children in Compassion’s program with the help of the Christmas Gift Fund.
So how does the Christmas Gift Fund work? Supporters like you can give a financial gift of any amount to the Christmas Gift Fund. All these financial gifts are combined and used to purchase one or more presents of equal value for every Compassion-assisted child. The local staff members at each Compassion center personally know each child in their care, so they can pick out gifts the children want or need. This way, every child in Compassion’s program gets to experience the joy of being known and provided for every Christmas!
To learn what’s on the wish lists of kids in poverty this year, let’s see five things that many children in Compassion’s program are wishing and praying for this Christmas!
1. Food
Each Compassion center works to protect children from malnutrition so that they grow up strong and healthy. At some Compassion centers, children receive bags of food for Christmas. And of course, children especially love to get treats like popcorn or juice to celebrate the holiday!