PRESENTS for needy families collected at Northgate church.
Courtesy photos
23rd year for Northgate Christian Fellowship program
By Donna Beth Weileman
Staff Reporter
An effort to give less fortunate Benicians a better Christmas is collecting donations to give at least 45 families a happy holiday this year.
Megan Freedman said Northgate Christian Fellowship started its “Adopt a Family” Christmas donations 23 years ago, when it had just 50 members. She said launching the program so quickly after the church formed was simply an expression of the members’ faith.
“As a congregation, our hearts were touched by those among us and around us who were and are in need,” Freedman said.
In those early years, the church adopted between seven and 10 families, she said. But in recent years the church has seen that number grow.
This year, Freedman said, at least 45 families will be helped by the church’s efforts.
“It’s very clear that Jesus’ heart was moved with compassion for those he came in contact with,” she said.
“We know it is our responsibility to do something when we see a need, but in doing so, we experience real joy!”
The church assembles its list of recipients in various ways, she said.
“We get names from within our congregation by knowing what is happening in each other’s lives and seeing a particular need,” she said.
“We receive calls from the community, and have partnered with Benicia’s Family Resource Center, Solano County’s Youth and Family Services, Vallejo’s Christian Help Center, as well as privately run shelters and outreach programs,” she said.
Then church members start shopping — and this year, they began early.
“We have been collecting gifts all during the month of December by putting coded tags on a Christmas tree in our church lobby and encouraging our members to take an ornament, purchase the gift, wrap it and return it before Dec. 24,” Freedman said.
“On Christmas Eve morning we will meet to change the coded tags to the names of the family members, and caravan to sing carols and deliver gifts along with a Christmas meal for each family.”
However, the collection effort could use a little help of its own, Freedman said.
“We are still in need of funds to purchase some of the meals for families,” she said. “If anyone is interested they can call our church office, we would love to speak to them.”
Northgate Christian Fellowship is at 2201 Lake Herman Road, and its number is 707-747-5855.
Freedman said she looks forward to the Christmas Eve deliveries every year.
“I look at what we have received, and worry that maybe we won’t make it and we’ll fall short,” she said. “But God always comes through. Somehow it always works out.”
She called it “an annual lesson in faith.”
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My name is Angela Mills and I am sending this email in hopes that someone will read it and consider my mother and children for the adopt-a-family program for Christmas 2016. My mother has had guardian ship of my 3 children for 10 years. She has always struggeld to make ends meet from just a foster care check she recieves for them. Now that I am clean and sober I can see things clearly and my wish is to see them have a beautiful Christmas that they have always wanted and deserve. Angelo is 15 years old and Randy is 10. My daughter is a bright 14 year old. My children are finally happy to their mother off of drugs and home to stay… I would greatly appreciate if you of someone you know will take my family in consideration and make a mothers wish come true……….THANK YOU
Hi Angela, my name is Denise and I own a local business in Benicia. I have been looking for a family to help out for the holidays and if you still need it, I’d love to help your mom
And children out. You can email me at loft714@yahoo.com and we can set something up.
Hi my name is Misty Bartholomew and me and my husband lorenzo we have 4 children ages 10,9,6,1 yrs old n we are currently homeless because of the fires in napa ca and so now we are living in our vehicle and all the shelter i call have a waitlist and i just hoping that someone reads this and can help us this christmas because we dont have the money do anything this christmas for our kids and if anyone knows of any shelter we can go to and stay together as a family please call me at 707-655-6531 thank you n god bless..
My name is edward barton i am new to california fairfield area we have been here for 7 weeks
i am a single fatber of 3 daughters we became homeless as we couldnt stay were we were
We have been in a motel 6 for 2 weeks and we will be here till dec 8th 2017
We have been working with the county and are getting into our own place dec 8 th i have not been able to start a job since i been here amd am putting this message out to see if i can find someone to help me to make christmas possible for them this year i am the kind of person to always give and not ask but i am in need this year and we are starting over from the bottom i am not ashamed to put our story here as i know this is temp. If there is anyone who would be able to insist me in any help with christmas or point me in the direction to any place that will help that is still accepting new families for holiday help as most deadlines are past even if we got help with a tree or decorations is a blessing please feel free to call or text me at 315 561 9685 my email is edbarton2016@gmail.com as well thank you in advance edward