The idea of the Christmas season brings joy to many but dread to others. This is not due to a lack of Christmas cheer, but due to the fact that some community members are unable to provide for themselves and their families. In December 2018, Christmas Outreach was able to spread Christmas joy to approximately 1,781 Isabella County community members.

This outreach program was partially made possible through funds given by the Women’s Initiative Fund, of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation. Christmas Outreach was able to distribute new winter clothing, blankets, books, toys, and boots to community members in need. Along with that, Christmas Outreach partnered with the Isabella County Transportation Commission (ICTC) who generously donated free rides to and from Central Michigan University’s Finch Fieldhouse, the staging area for this make shift market. The ICTC also offered free transportation of Christmas trees to the riders’ home. For two days, December 7th and 8th, community members were able to utilize this free bus ride to Finch Fieldhouse to pick out items for themselves and their family to make their Christmas a little brighter.

Although their generosity is not limited to just Christmastime, Christmas Outreach has made it a goal to provide for those in need during the holiday season. They were able to distribute hundreds of items, many of which still had sales tags on them. In 2018, this effort to provide helped serve over 1,000 community members with items essential to survive the winter weather. This ability to give new items is one way that Christmas Outreach is unique and helpful to others.

Christmas Outreach volunteers dressed in green and elf hats

Spreading Christmas Joy