Family of Faith is collecting items for the poor for Christmas! If you’d like to contribute please see the items being collected below. All items should be new and can be turned into the box in the portico labeled “Family of Faith Service Items” by December 13th or given to the front office for Ashley Allwein. 

Items: should be gender neutral size L, XL, and bigger  
-hats
-gloves
-socks
-hand warmers
-chapstick 
-travel size lotion 

Family of Faith has adopted 30 in-need families for Christmas, but FOF needs a little help completing the items! If you are able, please sign-up below to buy 1 or more gifts for children and their families. 

https://signup.com/go/tuBkOFL

Here are some more details -

1. The above link will take you to the full list of desired toys for each child we are adopting
2. Simply click "sign up" for the item you'd like to purchase 
3. Fill out the information accordingly (email and name)
4. Continue for as many children you'd like to buy for!
   
   You can drop off your unwrapped gift at St. Matthew parish in the portico (side entrance) of the Church before December 16th or drop it off to the parish office for Ashley Allwein to retrieve. 

 Thank you for your generosity and for helping a family in need!

For Christmas, the Charitable Works Ministry will set up a “Christmas Shoppe” where families can obtain gifts for their children. We are asking for donations of GENTLY USED items that would make great gifts for boys and girls. Gifts could be anything from a gently used football, ball cap with team logos or baseball glove to jewelry, headbands, toys and games your children have outgrown. For some of our clients, these may be the only gifts their children receive. Please place your donations in the portico entrance of the church by Sunday, December 11. 

***Note: We are in special need of gifts that are appropriate for teen boys and girls. Sporting equipment (basketball, volleyball, etc.) is always popular. Other items, like cosmetics, a skin care set, accessories, jewelry etc., are always welcome!*** 

Our Charitable Works Ministry also needs adult volunteers for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, 10 am to 12 noon. Click the Sign Up Genius link for time slots that still need to be filled.

Volunteer at Charitable Works

St. Matthew Parish is once again partnering with the Youth Empowerment Program to host a Covid-friendly Christmas party and provide survival backpacks for teenagers who are facing housing insecurity (those living in shelters or cars, couch surfing or living in a tent). Each backpack will contain a Kroger gift card, a fast food gift card, a day bus pass, socks, hand warmers, hand sanitizer, lip balm, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, and nonperishable snacks. Donations will also be used to purchase emergency tents for street outreach teams to distribute. Your donation will help these young people and no donation is too small! Please make checks payable to St. Matthew Church and place in an envelope marked “YEP Teen Gifts” or make a donation via Online Giving (please use the Offertory Fund and type in “homeless teens” in the notes). Please donate by December 17.

For more information, contact Mary Thompson at marythompson.200@gmail.com

We need strong adults to help set up the manger for our Nativity scene! We'll start work after 8:30 am Mass on Monday, December 19, and we'll work until we're done. No sign up necessary - just come when you can for as long as you can!

We are decorating the church for Christmas on Thursday, December 22, starting after 8:30 am Mass. We have lots to do, and families with children are welcome to help! No sign up necessary - just come when you can!

We have a number of ongoing service opportunities listed on our website. For more information, click "Community Support" in the top menu followed by "Want to Help."