Christmas Memories

Northside Community Center, Southside Outreach Center

Today was so much fun with 20 of our His Haven Northside after school Drop-In Program children! It was a bus trip to Southside for their turn to shop for Under the Tree From Me, an opportunity to pick out some new PJ’s, a pizza party with LOTS of Christmas cookies and a tour through Tinsel Town on the way back to Northside! There was so much joy and excitement in the air as they sang Christmas carols, selected gifts for their loved ones and giggled and gasped at the incredible display of Christmas lights! A cherished childhood Christmas memory made, for sure!
 

Under The Tree From Me 2022

Northside Community Center, Southside Outreach Center

Under the Tree From Me…was a tremendous success! His Haven provided over 100 children the opportunity to shop for free gifts to give their parents, grandparents and other caregivers on Christmas morning.
 
One mom shared that it was the highlight of her son’s Christmas last year. “He did not want to open his own gifts before my husband and I opened ours!!” One young shopper was in and out of our shopping area in no time. When asked how he was able to make a selection so quickly he replied, “I saw what I knew my mom would like, right away. She loves fuzzy things!”
 
This is a no cost event. Just a smile due at registration! We saw smiles from adults tonight too, as they patiently sat in the waiting area while their children shopped. After one of our staff jokingly made a comment about parents not peeking before Christmas, one dad commented, “Hardest part is waiting!” Hang in their adults…Christmas is less than two weeks away!
 
While shoppers were waiting for their turn, many of them took time to color Christmas ornaments and put festive messages and pictures in Christmas cards that will be hand delivered to a local nursing facility just in time for Christmas!
 
More happy smiles!! 
 
Learn more about our annual event here:  https://hishaven.org/under-the-tree-from-me/
 

PJ Drop 2022

Northside Community Center, Southside Outreach Center

A few months ago one of our staff said, “ Every child needs new jammies for Christmas morning!”
 
 
Facts! The following week our organization began collecting and sorting pajamas, sleep essentials and more.
 
 
T’was after a quick trip to Target, when all thorough His Haven, PJ’s were placed on hangers where they wouldn’t long be stayin’!
The jammies were all hung on the racks with care, in anticipation of all the kids that would soon be there!
We are making this an annual event… you won’t want your child to miss it!
 
 
We are thrilled to share that His Haven served over 70 Elmira children during our first annual PJ Drop. Children from infant to eighteen came through our doors to shop at our free event and left with new pajamas. Some even selected slippers, socks and handmade sleeper quilts to complement their cozy, new threads!
 
 
One single mom arrived with her five children after recently relocating from the South and we supplied them with winter coats as well. Our eventful evening did not stop there!
 
 
During our PJ Drop, our delightful volunteers from Penn Ave Methodist were serving a scrumptious baked ham Christmas dinner in our dining hall. Over 100 community members were blessed by their labor of love.
 
 
A TREMENDOUS thank you to our staff, volunteers and donating community partners!
 
Once again, Elmira, giving looks good on you!
Learn more about the PJ Drop here:  hishaven.org/pjdrop