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PRESS RELEASE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Deborah Chambers
VP, Development and Partnerships
Cell: 202-534-9965
dchambers@missiondc.org
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Operation Christmas Miracle Giveaway is a Miracle Indeed this Year
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Washington, DC—December 17, 2022—After a week- long plea to the public to donate gifts and toys for the 500 plus unsponsored children for this year’s Operation Christmas Miracle Giveaway, Central Union Mission is proud to announce that the need has almost been fully met and distributions will begin today.
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“This was truly a Christmas miracle,” said President & CEO, Joe Mettimano. “I wasn’t sure how we would get it done, but I had faith in the village that always shows up when we’re in need.”
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Each year, with the community’s support and generous donors, nearly 1,000 children in need are given free gifts and toys to celebrate the holiday. Due to a decrease in toy donations this year, there was still a huge need for presents as recent as this week.
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President & 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 understood why the donations were low, but I was prayerful that we could still make sure that all those kids woke up to presents on Christmas morning, and I’m so relieved that they will.”
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Giving Christmas gifts to children in need is a Central Union Mission tradition that dates back to 1925 with First Lady Grace Coolidge.
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Central Union Mission will accept gifts for children through Dec. 23 at both 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.
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Toys will be distributed Sat. Dec. 17 through Dec. 20, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm each day at the Comprehensive Family Resource Center. In addition to gifts for the children, their families will receive groceries too.
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About Central Union Mission:
Central Union Mission is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the oldest private social service agency in Washington, DC. In addition to its emergency shelter, which provides more than 60,000 bed-nights each year, the Mission operates holistic, Christ-centered transformation and workforce development programs for men, provides benefits for veterans, helps people overcome addictions, operates a food and clothing distribution center which provides food for over 4,000 people each month, runs a camp for underprivileged children, and offers a ministry to families and senior citizens. Charity Navigator has rated Central Union Mission a four-star charity, Candid awarded Central Union Mission a Gold Seal for our financial transparency and GreatNonProfits has given Central Union Mission a Top-Rated award.
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