It was sort of an odd sight, seeing the two vans stacked to the ceiling with bags full of wrapped Christmas gifts.  There were gifts on every seat and every bit of floor.  In fact, all you could see through the windows was a patchwork of bright red and green wrapping paper and bows.  All told, it took five of us working almost ten minutes to unload all the donated presents and pass them through the window into the YFC office. 

We are talking about a lot of gifts!  It’s a good thing too, because this year we had over 45 kids in Wilmington whose families signed up for the Christmas Gift Program.  Each year, Justine Lampkins works with our youth center Directors and the Jackson Christmas Community Outreach to distribute these presents to needy families around Wilmington in time for the holiday. 

In the 10th chapter of Matthew, Jesus said, “And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." (NLT)  I want you to know, when you give to Delaware Youth for Christ, you give so much to so many.  Your generosity helps to deliver a Merry Christmas to kids and families you will never meet.

In Middletown, Don Bartell partnered with Toys for Tots to deliver toys to another 50 needy families in Middletown, Odessa, Townsend and New Castle.  Don also worked with Amazing Grace Outreach and the Middletown High School to help deliver food baskets to 30 families this Christmas.  On top of the food and gifts, dozens of kids filled up each of our youth centers for our Christmas parties.

Most importantly, every gift you help us to give; every hungry family you help us to feed; every young person you help us to welcome into the youth centers is another opportunity for someone to hear the good news of the gospel message. 

We would like to extend very special thanks to Bible Fellowship Church out of Newark for all of their help with the Christmas Party at the Tiberi Center. They provided face painting, volunteers and a LOT of pizza! Special thanks to "Big Jim" Kramer for his help with the gifts and for contributing pictures to this page.