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  • Phone: (732) 349-5367
  • Email:
  • Mailing Address: 1528 Church Rd. Toms River, NJ 08755

 

 

Spirit Lake

  

Spirit Lake Christmas Shoebox Project 

Shoebox Christmas is a program that provides Christmas gifts to children in need in the Dakotas and Minnesota. This past Christmas over 6,500 gifts were donated and distributed in North and South Dakota and Minnesota. In South Dakota the Crow Creek and Pine Ridge reservations and the Enemy Swim school near Sisseton received gifts. In North Dakota the Spirit Lake Nation and the Turtle Mountain reservations received gifts. 

What's in a Shoebox?

Love. Shoebox Christmas gifts are built from love for children that might not otherwise get a Christmas gift. On the reservation, up to 70 percent of the children would not get a Christmas gift if not for the Shoebox Christmas Gift program and the generosity of the people that donate to this wonderful program. To start, wrap the bottom and top of the box separately (this will allow us to insert the story of the birth of Jesus. If you have children, grand children, nieces or nephews, ask them what they would like for Christmas. Add that, a few more small gifts, some candy, a winter hat, mittens or gloves, place a rubber band around the box and the top, then put the age group and gender of the child on top of the box. You have just built a box of love. We are looking for the following age groups. Infant, Toddler, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, 13 and up. Please only add new toys and please don't put any clothing except the hats/gloves or mittens in the boxes.

 

 

Warmth of the Spirit from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.

 

Christmas in July

Like a Good Neighbor, St. Andrew is There

Each Sunday in July, Saint Andrew UMC collects $20 Target or Wal-Mart gift cards.

In partnership with local elementary schools, these gift cards help make

Christmas a little brighter for

students in need in our Community.

Last year we blessed 44 families and 107 children.

Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted. 

Undies for Easter: An Act of Love

 

Donate much-needed men’s underwear to Philadelphia prison inmates for Easter.

Each inmate arriving into the Philadelphia Prison System is given ONE pair of underwear briefs and no undershirts or socks. Can you imagine life like this?

In past years, through the Undies for Easter campaign, your generosity has provided over 2000 men’s briefs, over 2000 men’s undershirts, and over 2000 pairs of socks. Head Chaplain Urena is now again in need of assistance as he aims to provide at least one additional pair of briefs, an undershirt and socks to each individual entering incarceration.

This year, the need continues as there are 3600 people in the Philadelphia prison system, within 5 facilities. The overwhelming majority are men.

We have set up a new Undies for Easter Gift Registry on Amazon. Just click here.

Anyone can easily purchase online packages of selected Fruit of the Loom briefs, containing 9 pairs of men’s white briefs—medium or large and Hanes 6-packs of undershirts in large and X-large, as well as 12-packs of crew socks. They will benefit the health and wellness of our incarcerated brothers and help them maintain a sense of their humanity as beloved children of God.

We hope to again collect and deliver at least 2,000 pairs of briefs, undershirts and socks through this campaign to support the chaplain’s efforts. This campaign will end on Palm Sunday, March 29, and all purchased underwear will be delivered to the chaplain before Easter Sunday.

Thank you for your generosity in supporting those who are incarcerated!

The EPA UMC Prison Ministry and Restorative Justice Team

Note: All donations must be made online via Amazon.com and delivered to EPAUMC Prison Ministry at the Eastern PA Conference Office P.O. Box before Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026. All men’s briefs, undershirts, and socks must be identical to those specific items on our Amazon gift list. Contact the Rev. Marilyn Schneider of the EPAUMC Prison Ministries & Restorative Justice Team with any questions or concerns at