Advent Giving Tree and Hat/Mitten Tree
November 22 to December 7
Starting on the weekend of November 22/23, you will see a basket with the Advent Giving Tree tags in it. Both the Advent Giving Tree and the Hat & Mitten Tree will be up in the Gathering Space starting on the weekend of November 29/30.
For the Advent Giving Tree, take a tag from the tree and return the wrapped gift (unless tag says “gift wrap not necessary”), with the tag attached, and place under the Giving Tree by Sunday, December 7. For the Hat & Mitten Tree, place hats, mittens or gloves, and socks on the tree, and place books in the baskets under the tree.
Check out the information below to learn more about who we are serving this year. Follow the links to go to their websites. We partner with all of them in various ways throughout the year. Browse around—maybe you will find other, new ways to get involved.
As this Advent tradition continues at St. Robert’s, these organizations have come to rely on our generosity. Often the gift you purchase may be the only one the person will receive at Christmas. By the time we are done, hundreds of gifts will be distributed. Thank you for being the light of Christ in the lives of so many in our community!
Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities
Part of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston, Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities operates in Lawrence, Lowell, and Haverhill. From basic needs assistance to educational programs to community support, MVCC provides a helping hand to thousands in our community area every year. We will be providing wish list gifts for children ages 0-15.
Si Se Puede
Si, Se Puede (Spanish for “Yes, it is possible”) is a multi-service neighborhood program based in the Merrimack Courts Housing Project in the lower Tower Hill area of Lawrence, MA. Their primary purpose is to provide educational, social, and economic support for low-income Lawrence youth and their families. We will be providing wish list gifts for children ages 7-17.
Tewksbury State Hospital
Governed by the MA State Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Tewksbury Hospital provides comprehensive treatment, care, and comfort to adults with chronic medical and mental illnesses. We will be providing wish list gifts for some of the patients in residence there.
St. Mary’s Parish, Lynn
St. Mary’s is a large and vibrant parish serving a diverse community which includes families who have lived in the area for generations as well as immigrants from Haiti, many countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. We will be providing gifts (mostly toys but also some warm hats & mittens for adults, too) for distribution to those in need who are served through St. Mary’s Tree of Life Food Pantry and other local ministries.
Pregnancy Care Center
Since 1985, the Pregnancy Care Center has been helping women and men in the community make informed decisions about unexpected pregnancy, sexual integrity and recovery from post-abortion trauma. Free and confidential services include: pregnancy tests; clothing, food and furnishings for mother and baby; counseling and support on pregnancy options, sexual integrity, parenting, childbirth, healthy mother/healthy baby, and infant care.
Bread & Roses
Bread & Roses is a soup kitchen in Lawrence, MA, that fulfills its mission to ease the hungers in our community by providing guests with a hot, nutritious evening meal and distributing food, clothing, and basic life necessities to those most in need. We will be providing white bath towels for them. It is not necessary to Christmas gift wrap these, as they will be kept on hand for distribution to those in need as they come to the soup kitchen, not as Christmas presents but as part of the daily mission of Bread & Roses.
St. Ann’s Home & School
St. Ann's in Methuen offers private day programs and residential services for children and teens, designed to nurture, rehabilitate, and support those who are emotionally and or behaviorally disturbed. On our Hat & Mitten tree we collect hats, mittens, and socks, as well as books for their library (age range is 2-16). Christmas gift wrapping is not necessary—just place hats/mittens/socks on tree, and books in the baskets under the tree.