Delivering food, shelter, and hope to the poorest of the poor
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Resources
Ideas, activities and downloads to make Box of Joy fun and easy.
Gift Ideas
Get your group ready to participate in Box of Joy with these fun ideas.
Spread the Word
Promote your group, encourage people to join, let them know how they can support with these ads, artwork and shareables.
Print Materials and Videos
Use these materials and videos to organize your groups and promote Box of Joy, we have everything you need!
Activities
Get your group ready to participate in Box of Joy through these fun ideas.
Please feel free to use your own creative thoughts, or modify the ones below. We pray that God draws your community closer together as you reach out to bless children for his glory.
THE JOY METER
This idea gives you some room for creativity! Set a goal for how many children your group wants to help, and place a “Joy Meter” in a prominent place. Each time a box is brought in, fill your meter a little more. Your Joy Meter could be a thermometer drawn on a large piece of paper, a map-of-the-world coloring sheet that gets filled in as benchmarks are met, or a large plastic tube that you fill with different colored sand each time a gift is dropped off — the possibilities are endless. Remember, the more creative you are, the more it will inspire your parishioners to “feel the joy!”
BOX OF JOY BLESSING CEREMONY
Before your gifts are taken to the Drop-Off Center, have a special time of blessing for the Box of Joy gifts at Sunday Mass. Pray that the Lord will bless the gifts on their journey and that they will show the love of Christ to the children, their families and the entire community. The priest’s message can be about giving to the poor, fulfilling the Works of Mercy, and other lessons on showing the love of Christ to the world. Pray for the priests, nuns and lay missionaries in the countries receiving the Box of Joy gifts.
FAMILY TIME
Encourage each family to make this a part of their family’s Christmas celebration. Have a family fun night by going to the store to buy items, and then come home to pack the Box of Joy gifts and make a card for the children who receive them.
SKIT PROMOTIONS
Promote your Box of Joy campaign through skits in catechism classes and other children’s or youth ministry events. For example ask two adult members to dress up like Box of Joy gifts talking about the journey they’re about to make across the world. Or have children participate, representing children from the U.S. and children in the developing countries that would be receiving the boxes. Show the difference in the children’s lives and build compassion for the poor in the hearts of your students.
HONOR OR MEMORIAL GIFTS
Have a program in your parish or school to pack a Box of Joy in honor or memory of someone. Create a card to be filled out in the person’s honor or memory and place it in your Box of Joy. Instead of giving traditional Christmas gifts to family members, fill a box in their honor
FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY
Serve hot chocolate, Christmas cookies and candy canes and ask every family to bring the items to pack in their boxes. Play Christmas music and set up a Christmas card and box-wrapping station. Each box can include a Christmas card to make the children feel special. (Lids must be wrapped in a way so they can still open.)
BOX OF JOY OLYMPICS
In catechism classes, turn your Box of Joy campaign into a friendly competition to see who can pack the most Box of Joy gifts! This competition could be between boys and girls, between grades or between teams within your group. Give children weekly updates on who is winning — and give them a fun incentive to participate. For instance, the winning team receives a pizza party.
“JOY” RIDE
When your group collects all your Box of Joy gifts, caravan them to your Drop-Off Center. Make it fun for the children in your parish or school by decorating cars. Use window paint to say things like, “I packed a Box of Joy for Christmas,” or “For Kids Who Wish for Just One Gift.”
WOMEN’S CRAFTING PARTY
For the Women’s Group in your parish, gather to make items for your boxes in order to save money on supplies and to give children creative, one-of-a-kind gifts. For instance, you could sew a pillowcase dress for a girl ages 2-4, sew bean bags or knit a hat for a child of any age. Search online for additional creative ideas. For your Children’s Group, gather children to make Christmas cards to be placed in each box. This will make the Box of Joy gifts more personal and make the children feel more involved. See the printable “Kids Activity Page” below.
CRAFTING PARTY
Recruit a prayer team from your parish or a social justice team to meet regularly the month before Box of Joy Week. Here are some ways they can cover this ministry in prayer: Pray for each boy and girl who will receive a box, that they will receive the box God meant for them to have. Pray for your parish, that God would open each member’s heart to give generously of their time and resources. Pray that Box of Joy will show God’s love to each child who receives one, opening his or her heart to the lifesaving message of Jesus Christ. Pray for God to work in the hearts of people in the communities where these poor children live. May these gifts show Christ’s heart for the poor and build a bridge to the local Catholic parish.
TEENS ON A MISSION
Don’t forget to get your parish’s youth group involved in this project. Ask them to volunteer to promote Box of Joy in your parish and community. Don’t forget to listen to their suggestions — they have some of the most creative ideas in your congregation and can get your campaign all over social media!
BOX OF JOY CHRISTMAS TREE
Encourage your parishioners or students to bring enough boxes to build a “Christmas tree” at a gathering area in your parish. By the time Box of Joy Week comes, you will have gathered plenty of boxes and made a beautiful Christmas display!
POVERTY EDUCATION
Once a week, before the Box of Joy gifts are collected, explain to children’s catechism classes what it means to be a child living in poverty overseas. Many children might not be aware that other children don’t have food to eat, clothes to wear, a pencil for school or toys to play with like they do.
RUN FOR JOY
Host a 5K run/walk in your community; make the entry fee a filled Box of Joy for a child.
Box of Joy shirts and more
Promote Box of Joy and unite your volunteer team together with Box of Joy shirts, buttons and other fun gifts!
Media Resources
For media inquiries, contact Kevin Wandra at kwandra@carmelcommunications.com
Clink the links below to download material
Jim Cavnar
michele sagarino
sandi pino
tessie o'dea
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