Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child - Due Nov. 17

Gift-filled shoeboxes bring joy, hope, and the Good News of Jesus to children around the world! Pick up your Operation Christmas Child form and box at the Christmas from the Heart tables, fill the box with small toys, a note of love, school supplies, and/or hygiene items, and return the unwrapped box and a $10 check for shipping (payable to Samaritan’s Purse) to Concordia by Nov. 17. (Please note that late boxes cannot be accepted due to shipping deadlines.)

Salvation Army Angel Tree

The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program provides new clothing and toys for children of families in need through the support of donors like you. Angel Trees are decorated with numbered paper angel tags with the first name, age, and gender of a child in need of gifts. This program provides Christmas gifts for eligible families of children ages newborn to 13 years of age. Please select an Angel at the Christmas from the Heart display, purchase gifts from your Angel’s wish list, and return UNWRAPPED gifts to Concordia inside the bags provided at sign-up - we’ll take care of delivery! Due Sunday, Dec. 1.

New Life Children’s Center for Girls

New Life Children’s Center provides a therapeutic program in a secure setting for girls aged 11 to 17 yrs who have suffered physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse. You can share the love and spirit of Christmas with one of these young ladies by filling a shoe box with items like gloves, a beanie (winter hat), lotion (no pump), Chapstick/lip gloss (no glass), candy, hairbrush, toothbrush, deck of playing cards, socks (ankle only), hair ties/scrunchies (no metal), and a note of encouragement. Please pick up a shoe box at the Christmas from the Heart display, fill it with designated “gifts,” and return UNWRAPPED boxes to Concordia. To give a monetary donation online, please click here. Due Sunday, Dec. 1.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Thousands of children living in San Antonio do not have a bed in which to sleep. It is our hope to provide as many beds as possible to be assembled and delivered in San Antonio. Each bunk bed set costs $365 and includes a bunk bed, mattresses, pillows, and all linens. All monetary increments are welcome, and we are also accepting standard pillows and twin-sized bed-in-a-bag sets. Due Sunday, Dec. 1.

***We will also have a bed delivery day on Tuesday, Dec. 24 to provide beds just in time for Christmas!
Check back here to register for the delivery team!

To give a monetary donation online, please click here.

Faith Comes By Hearing/Military BibleSticks

More than 180,000 men and women enter and leave military service every year, many of them unchurched. Military BibleSticks provide the comforting truth of God’s audible Word and can be used undetected in the field. Each monetary donation of $25.00 will provide one BibleStick to a military member. To give a monetary donation online, please click here. Due Sunday, Dec. 1.

Unhoused Communities (CAM, CUB, Salvation Army)

Socks and underwear are at the top of the list of needed items for our community partners who serve the unhoused population in San Antonio. NEW men’s and women’s underwear and socks are a great way to help support Christian Assistance Ministry, Communities Under the Bridge, and Salvation Army. Monetary donations are also accepted and will go towards food, clothing, and hygiene items that are needed throughout the year. To give a monetary donation online, please click here. Due Sunday, Dec. 1.

Adoption Priorities School Supply Drive

Christmas marks the halfway point of the school year, and school supplies are already depleted. We are working with Adoption Priorities to supply essential school materials for low-income schools in the San Antonio area. Take a look at the list of 10 items we are collecting:

Crayons, Pencils, Erasers, Dry Erase Markers, Disinfecting Wipes, Tissues, Markers, Colored Pencils, Sharpies, Monetary Donations

To give a monetary donation online, please click here. Due Sunday, Dec. 1.

Baby Diapers & Wipes Drive

We will be collecting diapers and wipes to share with St. Paul Lutheran, a partner congregation in downtown San Antonio. Through St. Paul’s CARE Program, families in need can receive these basic necessities this Christmas season and beyond. To give a monetary donation online, please click here. Due Sunday, Dec. 1.

Christian Senior Services Toiletry Drive

Meals on Wheels delivers to thousands of homebound seniors every day. This organization has noticed a need for hygiene items because many individuals do not have the ability to leave their homes. During the holiday season, it is always nice for homebound older adults to receive something special along with their hot food. We are asking for donations of any new, individually wrapped travel or full-size toiletries. Items needed include: tissue packets, hand lotions, combs/brushes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, shampoos, hand soaps, hand sanitizers, shower caps, and soft hand towels. To give a monetary donation online, please click here. Due Sunday, Dec. 1.

San Antonio Food Bank Drive - Dec. 1

The San Antonio Food Bank actively fights hunger and feeds hope in San Antonio and Southwest Texas. Founded in 1980, the San Antonio Food Bank serves one of the largest service areas in Southwest Texas. Our focus is for clients to have food for today but also to have the resources to be self-sufficient in the future. Basic food items can be a wonderful and often much-needed gift at Christmas. On Sunday, December 1, Concordia will host our annual Christmas Food Drive to support the San Antonio Food Bank in their effort to make this season more special for families in need.

WE CANNOT ACCEPT: Glass containers, homemade goods, rusty or unlabeled cans, alcoholic beverages, mixes or sodas, opened or used items, baby food in jars, over-the-counter or prescription drugs, food after or very close to the expiration date.