This Christmas season ACT4Missions (Ashtabula Catholics Together 4 Missions) will be leading us in a project called Box of Joy, a Christmas gift ministry organized by Catholic parishes and groups nationwide. This is a countywide mission to bless as many children as possible. By packing Boxes of Joy with toys and other gifts, we will bless children suffering from extreme poverty by sharing the joy of Christmas and planting seeds of hope through the Gospel. Every box will include a rosary and the story of Jesus in the child’s native language. We encourage you to donate to Box of Joy in some way!

There are several ways to be involved. You can fill Boxes of Joy yourself, you can donate items to fill boxes, you can donate financially for items or shipping costs, you can attend one of the box filling evenings planned. We have the opportunity to be such a blessing to children suffering from poverty overseas! This year we have set a goal to bless 200 impoverished children in Latin America! We will need a lot of help in order to reach such a big goal. The Kickoff for our Box of Joy outreach will be October 1, 2023. Materials will be available at each parish or you can contact an ACT4Missions member. You can use the provided boxes or any shoe box!

Boxes must be returned by Nov. 6th. Each box costs $9 to ship, please consider donating that amount with your box. Checks to cover the shipping of the gifts overseas should be made out to Cross Catholic Outreach, not the parish.

The most important thing you can do to help is to advertise throughout the county! We will have a community collection day on November 5th from 12 pm to 3pm at Ashtabula Lakeshore Park. Donations may also be dropped off in the collection boxes at church or contact an ACT4Missions member to arrange pick up. We will host 2 evenings to enjoy fellowship while packaging boxes together. November 6th at Assumption parish in Geneva and November 7th at St. Joseph Calasanctius in Jefferson. Both will be from 6pm – 8pm.

For more information contact the Project Leader Lindsay Fuentes, 440-650-4463 or lindsayfuentes923@gmail.com, talk to a ACT4Missions member, or check out boxofjoy.org

ACT4 Members: Lindsay Fuentes, Marnie Terry, Nancy Holodnak and Jack Howe.

KEY REMINDERS:

1. Use the provided gift box or any shoe box (approximately 12″ x 5″).

2. A $9 donation is needed to mail each Box of Joy.

3. You may choose the age and gender of the child receiving a Box of Joy.

Gift Ideas:

PERSONAL NOTES & PHOTOS: We encourage you to enclose a personal note or a handmade Christmas card and share a photo of yourself or your family.

TOYS: Deflated soccer balls with pump, Mini puzzle, Binoculars, Harmonica, Kazoo or other small instrument, Jump Rope, Yo-yo, Dolls, Craft kit (beads, elastic, etc.)

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Pencils, Pencil sharpener, Erasers, Pencil case, Crayons, Ruler, Coloring book, Notepads.

HYGIENE ITEMS: Toothbrush/Toothpaste, Bar soap, Comb/Brush, Manicure kit.

HARD CANDY & GUM: Please seal in a zip lock-style bag. No chocolates! No Jolly Ranchers!

APPAREL: Socks, Shorts, Underwear, T-shirts, Flip-flops, Hats.

ACCESSORIES: Watch, Sunglasses, Jewelry, Hair accessories, Cross or rosary, Flashlight, Drawstring bag.