b'they assist long after holiday decora- access to Christ where He is most tions come down.clearly manifestedin the local During the past three years, Den- church. The Christmas Store and ver Rescue Mission has distributedThanksgiving Exchange are healthy about 1,000 Housewarming Boxesways our partner churches can before Christmas, Alexxa said. Evenassist the low-income families more will be given away this year. around them.We are looking at distributingMany of the outreach effectsTo create the them throughout the year in 2023,extend far beyond one Christmas she said. season. Thanksgiving Exchange In addition to meeting importantMany folks who began as shop- and Christmas Store,needs and helping families joyfullypers became volunteers, and some celebrate, Christmas programs rein- of those became store managers andit takes one fulltime force ministry values and aims. staff, Angela said. More than 25 It is our goal to strengthen theyears ago, a mother and father withdirector [working] ties between the local church and theyoung children were working hard to600 hours, six seasonal families, Angela said of City Gospelprovide for their family. Shed set aside Mission. As When Helping HurtsMcDonalds kids meal toys to givestore managers [more [Moody Publishers, 2009] teaches,their children at Christmas. When she Christ is the one who alleviateslearned about the Christmas Store,than] 1,000 hours, and poverty. Therefore, the poor needshe talked to her husband about \x02200plus volunteers working two to fourhour shifts.Angela AllenPhoto courtesy of City Gospel MissionNOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG 31'