Two feet of snow dumped on us the weekend before Christmas and threw a little wrench in our Adopt-A-Family for Christmas program. But it wasn’t enough to keep the packages from being delivered to each and every child we had adopted. We worked with several of our community partners, The Community Assistance Network, The Family Crisis Center, The Center for Pregnancy Concerns, and Thrive Baltimore to adopt over 50 families this year. There were more than 150 very excited children on Christmas morning thanks to the generosity of the families and small groups at CCC.

When we pulled up at the Family Crisis Center with bags and bags and bags of presents, they were just blown away. The staff at the center told us the mothers and children weren’t expecting anything at all for Christmas and this would be a big surprise. I wish we could have seen the children’s faces on Christmas morning. I’m sure it was even a bigger blessing to the mothers as they were able to wrap and give those presents to their kids. I drove away from the center overcome with joy. Yes, I was happy to have space in my car again, but I got to experience the joy of giving. I also was so very proud of the families in our church community who try to follow Jesus and be a light to the world.

Thank you to everyone who provided Christmas presents for these families. We’ve already heard several stories of how people have been moved by this experience of either giving or receiving. If you have a story about Adopt-A-Family for Christmas, we would love to hear it. Email your story to leighann@communitycc.net