What Jesus Wants for Christmas
(was entitled: A Birthday Gift for Jesus: Alternative Giving)
A Birthday Gift for Jesus
When we celebrate a birthday, we are careful to give what the person really wants or needs. Is there any doubt what Jesus wants from us? He insists that in order to give to him, we must find him in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned.
By helping to provide a goat for a farmer in Honduras, a decent home for a family in rural Mississippi, or food for those who are victims of war, you can give Jesus a birthday gift he really wants.
Contact one or more of the organizations listed below to get more information on how you can give money, time and skills to those in need. (Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Please contact us with additions and corrections.)
Ecumenical List
Alternative Gifts International
800/842-2243
www.AltGifts.org
1103 Topeka PO Box 3810
Wichita, KS 67201
helps organize "alternative giving" events
American Baptist Churches
World Relief Office
610/768-2202
www.ABC-USA.org
P.O. Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
seeks to combat hunger and poverty
American Friends Service Committee
888/588-AFSC
www.AFSC.org
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
seeks to root out the causes of violence that lie in poverty and imbalance
of wealth
Amnesty International
212/633-4256
www.Amnesty.org
322 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10001
works to free prisoners of conscience and end torture and executions around
the world
Bread for the World
800/822-7323
www.Bread.org
50 F Street NW Suite 500
Washington, DC 20001
promotes education and legislation on issues of international and domestic
hunger and justice
Call to Renewal
(202) 328-8745
ctr@calltorenewal.org
www.CallToRenewal.org
2401 15th St. NW
Washington DC 20009
a faith-based movement to overcome poverty
Catholic Relief Services
410/625-2220
www.CatholicRelief.org
209 West Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
assists the poor and disadvantaged outside of this country
Christian Church (DOC)
Basic Mission Finance
317/635-3113
P.O. Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206
provides health, healing, education and hope to marginalized people
Church of the Brethren
Emergency Disaster Fund
800/323-8039
www.Brethren.org/genbd/ersm/index.htm
1451 Dundee Avenue
Elgin, IL 60120
provides necessities and rebuilds resources for victims of disaster
Church World Service
219/264-3102
www.ChurchWorldService.org
P.O. Box 968
Elkhart, IN 46515
works in partnership with the needy while providing immediate necessities
of life
ECHO (Education Concerns for Hunger Organization)
239/543-3246
www.EchoNet.org
17391 Durrance Road
North Fort Myers, FL 33917
provides agricultural information and seeds to those working with farmers
in the third world
Episcopal Relief and Devlopment
800/334-7626
www.ER-D.org
815 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10017
ministers to those who are hurt, forgotten, disposessed, sick or in need
of training and education
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
World Hunger Appeal
800/NET-ELCA
www.ELCA.org/Hunger
8765 West Higgins Road
Chicago, IL 60631
works toward development, relief and justice
FaithAndMoneyNetwork (formerly Ministry of Money)
301/428-9560
www.FaithAndMoneyNetwork.org
11315 Neelsville
Church Road
Germantown, MD 20876
helps individuals explore, understand and address issues of money and faith
Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR)
914/358-4601
www.FORUSA.org
Box 271, 523 North Broadway
Nyack, NY 10960
works to achieve a just and peaceful world community
Habitat for Humanity
800/HABITAT (422-4828)
www.Habitat.org
121 Habitat Street
Americus, GA 31709
works in partnership with poor people around the world to build simple,
decent houses
Heifer Project, International
800/422-0474 or 800/422-1311
www.Heifer.org
P.O. Box 808
Little Rock, AR 72203
provides livestock and training to needy families in 107 countries
Koinonia Partners
912/924-1224
www.KoinoniaPartners.org
Americus, GA 31709
teaches peace, kindness, sharing and simplicity; sells pecan and peanut
products grown by the community
Mennonite Central Committee
717/859-1151
www.MCC.org
PO Box 500, 704 Main Street
Akron, PA 17501-0500
provides relief, services and development in 50 countries
Mercy Corps International
503/242-1032
www.MercyCorps.org
3030 SW First Avenue
Portland, OR 97201
promotes self-reliance, productivity and human dignity among the world's
poor
Oxfam America
617/482-1211
www.Oxfam.org
26 West Street
Boston, MA 02111-1206
promotes self-help development and disaster relief projects worldwide
Pax Christi USA
814/453-4955
www.PaxChristiUSA.org
532 W 8th Street
Erie, PA 16502
works for peace for all humankind
Presbyterian Hunger Program
800/334-0434
http://www.pcusa.org/pcusa/wmd/hunger/
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202-1396
responds to hunger and poverty through education, direct food relief, development
assistance, lifestyle integrity and influencing public policy
Reformed Church World Service
800/264-7249
www.RCA.org/mission/
P.O. Box 19381
Newark, NJ 07195-1938
responds to immediate relief needs and seeks solutions to long-term problems
through development, rehabilitation and advocacy
SERRV International, Inc.
800/423-0071
www.SERRV.org
500 Main Street
P.O. Box 365
New Windsor, MD 21776
provides a fair market for the producers of crafts in 40 countries
Sharing the Dream in Guatemala
605/624-6895
www.SharingTheDream.org
PO BOX 220
10 W. Main St.
Vermillion, SD 57069
provides fair income for Mayan artisans in Guatemala through a nonprofit marketing
program
Ten Thousand Villages
717/859-8100
www.TenThousandVillages.com
P.O. BOX 500
Akron, PA 17501-0500
provides fair income for Third World artisans through a nonprofit marketing
program
United Church of Christ
Justice and Witness Ministries: Office for Poverty and
Hunger
www.UCC.org
216/736-3290
700 Prospect Avenue, 9th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115
seeks to end childhood hunger and provides lifestyle education
United Methodist Committee on Relief
800/841-1235 or (800) 554-8583
UMCOR@gbgm-umc.org
General Board of Global Ministries
475 Riverside Drive, Room 1439
New York, NY 10115
responds to Christ's command to feed the hungry, care for the sick and welcome
the stranger in our midst
Roman Catholic List
Alternative Gifts International
800/842-2243
www.AltGifts.org
9656 Palomar Trail
Lucerne Valley, CA
92356-2267
helps organize “alternative giving”events
Amnesty International
212/633-4256
www.Amnesty.org
322 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10001
works to free prisoners of conscience and end torture and executions around
the world
Bread for the World
800/822-7323
www.Bread.org
50 F Street NW Suite 500
Washington, DC 20001
promotes education and legislation on issues of international and domestic
hunger and justice
Campaign for Human Development
(202) 541-3210
www.nccbuscc.org/cchd
3211 Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017
provides funding for grassroots organizations working to change the cycle
of poverty
Catholic Charities USA
(703) 549-1390
www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
1731 King Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22301
provides information and action alerts on issues of poverty and human services
Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA)
(212) 826-1480
www.CNEWA.org
1011 First Avenue, Room 1552
New York, NY 10022
offers opportunities for individuals and parishes to sponsor children in
Africa, India and the Middle East
Catholic Relief Services
410/625-2220
www.CatholicRelief.org
209 West Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
assists the poor and disadvantaged outside of this country
Catholic Social Services
provides volunteer opportunities in food distribution, foster care, adoption
and emergency assistance
(Contact your parish or diocese for the agency nearest you.)
Center of Concern
(202) 635-2757
www.COC.org
1225 Otis Street
Washington, DC 20017
provides social analysis, theological reflection, policy advocacy and public
education on issues of peace and justice
FaithAndMoneyNetwork (formerly Ministry of Money)
301/428-9560
www.FaithAndMoneyNetwork.org
11315 Neelsville
Church Road
Germantown, MD 20876
helps individuals explore, understand and address issues of money and faith
Habitat for Humanity
800/HABITAT (422-4828)
www.Habitat.org
121 Habitat Street
Americus, GA 31709
works in partnership with poor people around the world to build simple,
decent houses
Heifer Project, International
800/422-0474 or 800/422-1311
www.Heifer.org
P.O. Box 808
Little Rock, AR 72203
provides livestock and training to needy families in 107 countries
Holy Childhood Association (HCA)
(212) 563-8700
www.HolyChildhoodUSA.org
366 Fifth Avenue FL 12
New York, NY 10001
involves North American children in sponsoring seasonal appeals for children
around the globe during Halloween, Advent and Lent
Mary's Pence
(732) 452-9611
www.igc.org/maryspence/
402 Main St. Suite 210
Metuchen, NJ 08840
funds programs that serve economically deprived women and children in need
of shelter, education, legal advice and psychological and spiritual development.
Migration and Refugee Services (MRS)
United States Catholic Conference
(202) 541-3220
www.usccb.org/mrs/
3211 Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017-1194
offers opportunities for parishes and individuals to assist newcomers
National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW)
(202) 682-0338
www.NCCW.org
1275 K Street, NW, Suite 975
Washington, DC 20005
co-sponsors with Catholic Relief Services programs which allow parishes
and individuals to sponsor poor children around the world and support clean
water projects
Network
(202) 547-5556
www.NetworkLobby.org
801 Pennsylvania Ave SE Suite 460
Washington, DC 20003-2167
network@networklobby.org
national Catholic social justice lobby which provides advocacy for the poor
and disadvantaged
Oxfam America
617/482-1211
www.Oxfam.org
26 West Street
Boston, MA 02111-1206
promotes self-help development and disaster relief projects worldwide
Pax Christi USA
814/453-4955
www.PaxChristiUSA.org
532 W 8th Street
Erie, PA 16502
works for peace for all humankind
Peter's Pence
provides support for the victims of disaster as well as other projects
(Call your parish or diocese for more information.)
SERRV International, Inc.
800/423-0071
www.SERRV.org
500 Main Street
P.O. Box 365
New Windsor, MD 21776
helps parishes sponsor "global giving" fairs by providing a fair
market for the producers of crafts in 40 countries
St. Vincent dePaul Society
provides short-term asisstance to people in need
(Call your parish or diocese for programs in your area.)
Sharing the Dream in Guatemala
605/624-6895
www.SharingTheDream.org
PO BOX 220
10 W. Main St.
Vermillion, SD 57069
provides fair income for Mayan artisans in Guatemala through a nonprofit marketing
program
Ten Thousand Villages
717/859-8100
www.TenThousandVillages.com
P.O. BOX 500
Akron, PA 17501-0500
provides fair income for Third World artisans through a nonprofit marketing
program
Contact your Diocesan or Archdiocesan Justice and Peace Office for local
agencies and programs including soup kitchens, homeless shelters and other
outreach ministries.
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