Help Share the Gift of Giving!
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS
December 11th-13th
We all know the joy of giving. It's what drives many of us to donate or volunteer during the holidays. However, charity often robs struggling families of that same joy. Rather than choosing gifts for local families, our Community Christmas market creates a space where families can shop for their own kids and buy gifts at about 70-90% off retail value. In addition to letting families help support the ministry and make it more sustainable for future years, this model also preserves the dignity of parents by letting them provide for their own children at a price point that works with their budget. Furthermore, every family meets with a staff member or volunteer who gets to know them and their unique gifts and needs, focusing on restoring relationships instead of mere consumerism.
How Can You Help?
*Purchase gifts from our toy list on Amazon by clicking the button above!
Check out this video on how to sign up to volunteer for Community Christmas!
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREES
You can specifically support this event by hosting a Community Christmas tree, or purchasing gifts from a Community Christmas tree. During the month of November, businesses can set up a tree in their workplace offering customers the opportunity to purchase gifts for the market.
COM will provide gift wishes in the form of red paper ornaments, and we can also lend you a tree if needed.
People who visit your business can select a wish, purchase the gift, and return it with the ornament to your tree by December 3rd.
A COM volunteer will retrieve the gifts and put them in storage until the market opens.
We hope you will partner with us in making the first Community Christmas a success!
Why Community Christmas?
Welcome to the new Share Your Christmas, or as we at Community Outreach Ministries like to call it, Community Christmas!
Community Christmas is about making parents the heroes of Christmas again. Parents will have the opportunity to shop for their children at a very reasonable cost—70% to 90% off retail. We ask parents to participate in purchasing gifts for their children, which serves three important purposes: it ensures that the child receives a gift they truly want, gives parents the satisfaction of knowing they personally selected their child's gift, and allows Community Christmas to continue for years to come.
Why a Christmas Market?
Watch this video from Robert Lupton to learn more.
Application Process For Community Christmas
Applications are now available! Applications must be picked up from COM, and are due by November 26th. Parents may only shop for children from birth to 18 years old who are living in their household. We ask parents to complete an application with their information as well as their children's details. A budget worksheet must also be filled out. To submit your application, you will need to call 417-326-2769 to schedule a meeting to review the application and budget worksheet. After meeting with COM staff or volunteers, a shopping time for the market will be assigned based on your availability (childcare will be provided during the market, so keep this in mind while making your appointment). At the end of the meeting, you will be given a Christmas Food Basket Voucher that can be redeemed in our pantry anytime from December 11th-23rd during pantry hours.
Community Christmas, in partnership with local churches, will also be hosting Christmas dinners! This is a great opportunity for people of all ages to gather and celebrate the holiday season! If you would like to attend or help with the Christmas dinners, stop by COM to fill out a form!
Community Partners
Bolivar United Methodist Church
First Baptist Church of Bolivar
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Bolivar First Assembly of God
Mt. Gilead Methodist Church
Bolivar Family Church
St. Alban's Episcopal Church
Life Church
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Heritage Baptist Church
Souled Out Ministries
First Christian Church
Southern Hills Baptist Church
Ozark Offset Printing
Community Christmas Tree Hosts
Walmart
Shoe Sensation
Boone's BBQ
Brenda's Cafe
Cattle Baron's Boutique/Modern Lou
Commerce Bank
Bill Roberts Chevrolet
Village Boutique
El Rodeo
OakStar Bank
Tractor Supply
Life Church
First Baptist Church of Bolivar
Southern Hills Baptist Church
St. Alban's Episcopal Church
Walgreen's
Community Christmas can't happen without local churches and businesses. Volunteering, providing toys for specific age groups, giving financial donations, supplying meals for Christmas dinners, or even hosting a Community Christmas Tree can help. Every effort, big or small, helps us bring joy and hope to families in need during the holiday season.
Our community partners play a vital role in making Community Christmas possible! If your church or business would like to partner with COM for Community Christmas, please reach out to Kristi at kristib@bolivarcom.org or 417-326-2769 x 1503.
AT THE MARKET
At the market, parents will be greeted, and then guided through their assigned shopping time where they can personally choose gifts for their children. While parents shop, childcare will be available. Families can even take pictures with Santa! It’s a special way to celebrate the season and make sure every family has a merry Christmas.