Contact: Deborah Chambers
VP, Development and Partnerships
Cell: 202-534-9965 dchambers@missiondc.org
Central Union Mission in Need of Toy Donations for 500 plus Unsponsored Children for Operation Christmas Miracle – this weekend!
Washington, DC—December 14, 2022—Central Union Mission is currently collecting gifts and toys for the remaining 500 unsponsored children who registered for this year’s Operation Christmas Miracle Giveaway. Each year, with the community’s support and generous donors, nearly 1,500 children are given gifts and toys to celebrate the holiday. Unfortunately, as inflation continues to rise, toy donations have dropped significantly this year and there is still a huge need for presents with the Christmas giveaway just one week away.
Tables for toy donations sit empty at the CFRCPresident & CEO, Joe Mettimano said, “This is a difficult time for a lot of folks. Inflation has caused the price of bare necessities to skyrocket, making this time of year especially hard for families who live paycheck to paycheck and don’t have much to spare for presents. I’m prayerful that the community will step up, the way they always do, so that we can provide each kid on that list with something special to put under their tree.”
Said one Mom who asked to remain anonymous, “It was either purchase Christmas gifts for my babies or pay the rent. I had to pay my rent, but I had to figure out a way to get them something. Even if I couldn’t get them everything on their list, I wanted them to have something. My neighbor told me about Central Union Mission’s Operation Christmas Miracle, and it was such a blessing. My kids were able to get toys and clothes and I was so relieved.”
Giving Christmas gifts to children in need is a Central Union Mission tradition that dates back to 1925 with First Lady Grace Coolidge.
Today, Central Union Mission will accept gifts for children at the Comprehensive Family Resource Center located at 3194-B Bladensburg Rd., NE, Washington, DC 20018 from 9:00 am- 3:30 pm and at the Central Union Mission Emergency Shelter, 65 Massachusetts Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20001 from 8:00 am – 7:00 pm.
A suggested gift list is available on our website for those in need of gift ideas. The big distribution is scheduled to take place December 17- 20, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm each day. In addition to gifts, families will receive groceries too.
PHOTO and INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES at the Comprehensive Family Resource Center
Program recipient interviews, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Joseph J. Mettimano, President & CEO, Central Union Mission, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
