Ever get a gift which was not your first choice?

[DwightKitchens]

We've all had it happen. The gift giver had the best of intentions. But.... it was not the right size, color, style, etc.

The Florida United Methodist Children's Home (FUMCH) has the same problem. With approximately 100 children on campus, finding the perfect holiday gift is difficult. It used to be that they collected from Florida congregations wrapped gifts by age. Still, getting a cute dress which did not fit the personality of the child was disappointing.

A few years ago they started a campaign to offer each child gift cards which enabled them to visit local stores and shop for what they really wanted. The staff attempts to collect a total of $150 in card value for each child. Knowing the children, the staff purchases one gift for under the tree, and the children shop with the balance under the staff's supervision. Any remaining cards are used for group birthday meals, holiday outings, etc.

This is a great means for us to express our generosity to those in need. While they may have shelter, our expressions of love mean that they are not forgotten.

Cards (with gift receipts reflecting their value) and/or checks may be sent to Lake Gibson United Methodist Church, 424 W. Daughtery Road, Lakeland, FL 33809. Checks will be turned into cards and delivered to the campus. You may also hand deliver the cards to Dwight Kitchens, 410 Travelers Drive who will be taking them to FUMCH. If you have questions, please feel free to call Dwight at 863-984-4564.