We are not asking our friends and volunteers to adopt mesa families for Christmas this year.

This year, we are going to host a Christmas party for the poor and homeless. We will be serving them lunch and giving them a goody bag with homemade treats, gift cards, and some personal necessities.

To accomplish this, we will need donations. We would like to ask anyone interested in participating to donate the following:

• Walmart gift cards
• Prepaid grocery store gift cards (please select stores accessible to those who live downtown, off of Central, or near the friary)
• Gift cards to Furr's Buffet, Wecks, Burger King, and other fast-food restaurants
• Gift cards to movie theaters
• Bus passes
• Gift cards to Payless Shoes or other discount shoe stores
• New packs of men's and women's socks
• New "beanie" winter caps for men and women (The link is to demonstrate what the caps look like. We aren't endorsing this particular company.)
• New gloves/mittens for men and women
• Pocket hand warmers
• Mylar emergency blankets
• Moist towelettes and mini tissue packs
• Band-Aids & Neosporin tubes or mini first-aid kits (pocket-sized)
• Small bottles of ibuprofen
• Deodorant for men and women (no alcohol-based gels, please)
• Blank Christmas cards (we'd prefer religiously themed cards featuring the Holy Family, Nativity scenes, angels, etc.)
• Monetary donations (so we can purchase food for the meal)