Spreading Holiday Cheer Throughout the Year

Hey friends! The Mobilization Team at Mission Waco wishes you a holiday season overflowing with laughter, hugs, good food, and plenty of rest. However you celebrate, we hope this time of year reminds you of the beauty of living in close community and caring for our neighbors. 

The holidays are the perfect opportunity to share that joy with others, especially with neighbors who may be struggling to experience the warmth of the season. As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, how can we shift our focus from gifting ourselves to uplifting our community? How can we use our time, resources, and hearts to spread generosity, hope, and joy?

To make this season even brighter, we’d love for you to jump in with our upcoming Thanksgiving Day Lunch and Christmas Toy Store!

For 25 years, Mission Waco volunteers have helped host a special Thanksgiving Lunch for anyone in our community who needs a place to celebrate. It’s a classic Thanksgiving meal, warm, delicious, and filled with love, paired with bingo, worship, and meaningful conversation. Guests also receive winter essentials like scarves, gloves, and coats to help them stay warm in the colder months. Volunteers serve food, share stories, laugh together, and help make sure no one has to spend the holiday alone.

This year, the meal will serve around 100 people, many of whom are experiencing homelessness. And we need your help to make it happen!
You can get involved by:

• Joining us for fellowship and fun!
• Providing financial donations to cover meal costs

Every act of kindness helps bring dignity, warmth, and joy to our neighbors this holiday season. Click the link below to donate or learn more about how you can make Thanksgiving brighter for your community!

https://linktr.ee/MWMWThanksgiving

Another way to spread Christ’s love and holiday joy this season is by getting involved in Mission Waco’s Christmas Toy Store! This project creates a meaningful opportunity for families to experience the hope and celebration of Christmas by allowing parents to purchase gifts for their children at up to 80% off. Your generosity, whether through time, toys, or financial support, becomes a direct reflection of God’s provision for families in our community.

The Toy Drive is still in need of toy donations, especially items like sports balls, baby dolls, and dollhouses. If you feel led to give financially, Mission Waco also accepts monetary donations to help purchase new toys for families. And for those who prefer online shopping, there are Target, Amazon, and Walmart Wishlists full of gift ideas that will bless children this Christmas (linked below). 

There are also volunteer opportunities at the Toy Store on December 4th, 5th, and 6th. Through the love and service of volunteers and donors, around 600 families can experience the joy of Christmas in a way that honors their dignity and celebrates God’s faithfulness. Click the link below to donate to this year's Toy Drive or join us by serving as a volunteer! 

https://linktr.ee/missionwacotoystore2025

We hope that during this holiday season of giving, you consider what gifts, resources, or blessings God might be inviting you to share with those in your community. When you decide to give, whether that's by donating toys or sharing a Thanksgiving meal with new friends, we participate in the work Christ calls us to. These actions bring hope, joy, and light to those He calls on us to know and love through relationships. But these acts of giving and service do not only serve their purpose during Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are needs year-round! Please join us in loving our neighbors, not just during this Holiday season, but throughout the year. 

Happy Holidays!