Spreading some Christmas cheer

This Sunday the junior high & high school youth group surprised some of our elderly parishioners with gifts in honor of St Nicholas' feast day. Most of the people on this year's list live independently but are no longer able to attend Mass in person; a few were in assisted living facilities. One recipient was suggested by someone because she had recently lost her husband.

Students and their families put together gift bags beforehand with assorted little pick-me-up items that an elderly person might enjoy, and on Sunday afternoon we gathered outside St Patrick's for hot chocolate and cookies and everyone received their list of names and addresses.

Everyone did their dropoffs as separate family or carpool groups but sent me photos to share. Some comments from students and parents afterwards: "We really enjoyed this as a family." "We had nice interactions at both houses." "This is such a great activity; we love it!" One family even requested to have a specific person be put on their list because they had given to her last year and then had followed up with other surprise gift dropoffs of their own to her at Valentine's Day and Easter.

It's always a little intimidating ringing a stranger's doorbell and talking to them, but the seventh grade boys who rode with me did a great job with it (and there was lots of fun being had in the car...they had me laughing so hard I was crying at one point with their silliness).

Hope to do this again next year! (And next time I'll make sure to have the hot chocolate ready on time, ha ha!)