I know that some people cringe at the thought of listening to Christmas songs from Thanksgiving to Christmas, but I’m not one of them! My XM radio already has at least two holiday channels (my favorite is Holly, Channel 17, but Holiday Traditions, Channel 4, isn’t bad, either) and since I commute 2 hours, 3-4 days a week, I have ample time to enjoy holiday music. I can’t get enough of the holidays, the site, sounds, tastes and smells of the holidays never get old to me!
This is our favorite and busiest time of the year in the Development Office at St. Joseph’s Indian School, too! Yesterday an ‘all hands on deck’ e-mail went out, asking that anyone who could help sort mail, please report to our Mail Processing area – we received 123 trays of mail!
We are indeed grateful for the holidays and the generous gifts that it brings from many of our supporters.
But, not only is our Mail Processing Department busy this time of year, our Major Gifts Staff is equally as busy. We reach out to donors that we’ve come to know personally with a phone call, holiday card or personal visit.
It’s not always an easy time of the year for many of our donors who have lost loved ones and are facing loneliness during the holidays.
These personal outreaches are the ones that bring me the most joy in my job – I can take the time to visit with our supporters about how they’ll spend the holidays and share all of the activities and celebrations we have planned for the Lakota students at St. Joseph’s.
Indeed, the holidays are a time of gratitude for all of us at St. Joseph’s Indian School. We are grateful to work for a great organization and help carry out a mission that is changing the lives of Native American children and their families, and we’re grateful for our generous supporters who make our mission possible!
We wish you a blessed holiday season (now go turn on some Christmas music, while you still have time)!
Just an idea- there is a town in Rockport, MA, that reenacts the ‘Nativity’ via a parade through their town- for an hour, or so. They block off the streets and enforce cars not to be allowed during this time. At the end of the parade, the ‘Baby Jesus’ is placed in His manger. The shop owners light up their shops and are receptive to the annual event. After which, people continue to enjoy the town. Sounds like something, perhaps, the children at the school would enjoy.
Thank you for sharing!