Suggested donation: $25 per sponsored child
You can move with compassion this Christmas.
In a world where it can be tempting to despair, we believe that a movement of compassion can spread the simple yet transformative gift of joy. It’s a word of encouragement. It’s a thoughtful gift. It’s taking the time to remind someone that they are loved beyond measure.
In this season of celebrating the good news of Jesus’ birth, we invite you to move with compassion and spread joy to a child living in poverty with a gift and a card. Through the many challenges that children in poverty face, a Christmas gift and a word of encouragement are tangible beacons of hope. Each is a reminder that they are known and loved.
You can bring joy today by giving to the Christmas Gift Fund and by sending a Christmas card to the child you sponsor.
Give now*Be sure to send your card and gift before October 31st to help ensure gifts and cards are delivered by Christmas.
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How does the Christmas Gift Fund work?
When you give to Compassion’s Christmas Gift Fund, you equip our local church partners to give a personalized Christmas gift to every child in Compassion’s programs around the world.
Christmas gifts are delivered in one of three ways:
Children and their families attend a Christmas gathering at their local Compassion centre, where they receive gifts and celebrate the good news of Jesus’ birth.
Compassion centre staff will hand-deliver Christmas gifts to each child’s home, taking the time to share in the joy of the season with each family.
Compassion centre staff will facilitate cash transfers, empowering parents and caregivers to choose and buy a gift for their child.
In every case, Christmas gifts are given by local Compassion staff and volunteers who personally know each child and their family. Our local church partners take extra care to ensure that every child feels known and loved and is reminded of Jesus’ love for them.
Read moreFor Camila in Mexico, a gift through the Christmas Gift Fund meant getting her first warm blanket.
11-year-old Camila lives with her mother, Marisol, and her two-year-old sister, Karen. Camila’s mother works full-time at a bakery to support the basic needs of her two girls.
Earning around CAN$9 a day, Marisol has a tight budget. Despite this, she always tries to make Christmas special for her girls. She is very thankful to Compassion’s program for giving useful gifts to Camila. Camila’s favourite Christmas presents have been a cozy, thick blanket, which her little sister also loves, and a double-faced winter jacket.
During the year, the centre staff’s regular visits to the children’s homes help them to understand each family’s needs.
“That year, we realized that most families really needed thick blankets that could last for many years,” says Nelly, a centre staff member. “There are also many families that share a bed and one blanket for all.”
Camila still remembers her joy as she opened the package. “That same day they gave me the blanket, I opened it as soon as I got home and used it to sleep at night from that night on,” she says. “I am very grateful to have my first thick and warm blanket.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Local Compassion centre staff and volunteers will make every effort to get letters and gifts delivered to children and their families in time for Christmas. However, sending gifts and letters by the October 31st deadline gives them the greatest chance of arriving before Christmas.
Typically, Compassion centres host Christmas gatherings that are often the highlight of the year in many communities. Together, they celebrate with food, stories, music, dancing and more, and Compassion children receive their Christmas gifts. Here is just one example of what a Christmas celebration looks like at a Compassion centre around the world.
No matter what the celebrations look like, local Compassion staff and volunteers are tenaciously committed to sharing Jesus’ love with the children and families they serve. They connect with every child and family by delivering gifts, praying with them and reminding them of the good news of Jesus!
Compassion centre staff stay in close communication with families about gifts that are delivered as cash transfers. In the case of cash transfers, the decision of what to purchase is ultimately made by the child’s caregiver. In some cases, we recognize that meeting the family’s critical needs will be the right choice in the best interests of the child. Caregivers are well-equipped to make this choice for their families. Compassion’s use of cash transfers is in alignment with leading poverty alleviation research highlighting the effectiveness of cash transfers as they empower parents and caregivers with choice.
About Compassion
As one of the world’s leading child development organizations, Compassion partners with the local church in 29 countries to end poverty in the lives of children and their families.
Today, more than two million children and their families are discovering lives full of promise and purpose as they develop in all aspects of their lives—minds, bodies and relationships—while discovering God’s love for them in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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