3450 West Ray Road
Chandler, AZ 85226
(480) 899-1990

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Christmas Giving Tree

The incredible generosity of our community at St. Andrew's continually touches me, but the outpouring of support the past few month's has humbled me tremendously! Words cannot express enough the gratitude we all feel for your support of the Thanksgiving Food Drive, Giving Tree program, and the recent Foster Family Christmas Party!

The gifts of your time and treasure helped so many families in need this holiday season. Summary details of these annual programs will be posted in the coming weeks. May God richly bless you in the New Year!

— Kathey Osenbau

Christmas Giving Tree Recap

• Agencies the Giving Tree sponsored this year include confidential families at St. Andrew's, Chandler Head Start, Healthy Families, Catholic Charities Foster Families, St. Peter's and St. Anthony's Indian Missions, and Mother's Lifeline.
• We assisted 204 families with a total of 2,531 gifts. ALL of the tags were taken off of the trees and brought in by our parishioners!
• The Annual Foster Family Christmas Party was held on December 17, 2009 in Hennessy Hall. A total of 50 foster families from Catholic Social Services came to the party where the children enjoyed craft tables, ham and mac and cheese dinner, and gifts were given out by Santa and Mrs. Claus. More than 50 volunteers helped with the party. Many thanks to Youth Ministry for cooking the dinner and providing all of the crafts!

For information and assistance, contact Ms. Kathey Osenbau, our Coordinator of Caring Ministries.

Here are some of the thank you notes we received from Thanksgiving and Christmas

Dear St. Andrew's: Thank you for your donation to the Thanksgiving Food Drive at St. Andrew's! Your generosity will (greatly) assist needy families at St. Martin de Porres. Our Good Samaritans wish you a blessed Christmas!
— St. Martin de Porres SVDP

Dear People of St. Andrew's Parish: We were so blessed by the generosity of your people this Christmas season! Thank you for all that you did from the loan of your facilities for our Christmas party to the wonderful and thoughtful gifts for our children. I know that the rest of the foster parents and kids that were on the receiving end of your generosity are also very grateful. Thank you so much!
— (Foster family)

Thanks to all for the wonderful party and Christmas gifts!
— (Foster child)

Thank you St. Andrew's!
— (Foster child)

Dear St. Andrew's: Thank you for a wonderful holiday party! We allaenjoyed ourselves. We have two 5 year old girls, and the children were thrilled when they opened "Santa's" gifts! The support and love is truly appreciated. Happy New Year!
— Truly, The Royster family of 6

Dear St. Andrew's Parish: With grateful hearts we thank you for the dedication you have for our children in foster care! May God richly bless you.
— (Foster family of 5) PS: The Christmas party was wonderful!

Dear St. Andrew's Parish: Thank you for my Barbie's house, doll, clothing, scooter, helmet and elbow pads. I love them!
— Love, (Foster child)

Dear everyone at St. Andrew's: Thank you so much for putting on the Christmas party for foster families in December! My 3 girls absolutely loved everything - they were completely spoiled. It was so nice to get together and see other foster families too. With everything going on during the year, it is hard to keep in touch. Everyone was so kind and helpful at the party. THANK YOU for all that you do! God bless!
— The Hopekopp family

Dear People of St. Andrew's: Thank you so much for hosting the Annual Foster Care Party! We have been foster parents for three years and our whole family looks forward to the party. Each year I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the people. I can see Jesus in them! We currently have seven kids the oldest being 8 years old. We have three kids under the age of 3. One of your volunteers at the party came tour table and asked if she could help bring food to us. I quickly answered, "That would be great!". In less than a minute, she, along with two or three other people, had brought us eight plates of food as well as extra napkins! Wow… right on! My kids loved the easy crafts. Even my 2½ year old could do them. The supplies were plentiful and plenty of room to do the crafts. Plenty of people manning the tables as well. They were very helpful with my kids. I haven't even mentioned the gifts yet. Wow! Amazing! Each child received three gifts (that's 21 gifts for our family!) and they were all so excited to open them on Christmas Day. It was what each one wanted. We also appreciate the Bashas gift card! Our family is so appreciative of all you have done for us and the support we receive from your church. I pray God will richly bless each of you in the coming year!
— Love, the Taylor family

To all the wonderful people of St. Andrew's: Thank you so much for the fun Christmas party and gifts! Matthew had a great time seeing Santa for the first time! We appreciate all you've done for us. Thank you,
— the Allen family

Hi! Just a note to thank you for the Christmas party and gifts that you gave for the foster kids. This is our third year and with the present economy, this year's party was an exceptional one. Santa and Mrs. Claus are always very classy in their outfits. And all of the volunteers are always so friendly.

I would like to tell you a story about your gifts. My youngest foster child is a 9 year old girl. And I also have her sister, a 10 year old girl. I had made out their Christmas gift list and turned it in but had forgotten about it. The older girl had mentioned she wanted roller skates to me but I was hesitant about getting them because I thought she wouldn't really use them. The younger girl wanted soccer shoes. The youngest girl also isn't sure if she believes in Santa or not. But at the party they sat on his lap and told him what they wanted for Christmas. (I had already purchased their Christmas gifts.) When I asked them what they said to Santa - the younger said a beginner knitting kit and the oldest roller skates. I thought to myself, "oh, oh, they will be disappointed!" But when I got home, I looked at their gifts (I always have them wait until Christmas to open them) and much to my amazement, the beginner's knitting kit and roller skates were there! On Christmas Eve we opened all of the gifts except for those two. The girls go to their parents on Christmas Day — early. In the middle of the night, I put out the knitting kit and roller skates under the tree. When they woke up the next morning, the younger sister asked if Santa had been there and I pretended not to know. You should have seen their faces when they opened the gifts! Santa really did listen at the party! They also got soccer shoes and some really neat outfits.

Again, I want to express our appreciation for the gifts, especially with today's economy. You are all blessed to be a blessing. PS: We also love your Church! Such a beautiful setting and your Christmas lights are among the most moving in the Valley.
— Thanks to all, The Dias family

Dear Friends of St. Andrew the Apostle: I am writing this letter of appreciation from St. Anthony's Church in Sacaton, Arizona. Your wonderful Church members have presented us with Christmas gifts and prayers, which was greatly needed and appreciated! Our Church members come from homes that are limited and struggling financially and if not for you, they would not have had a Christmas. Although this is a celebration of Our Savior's birth, He has worked through your hearts and spread His love to others. We will continue the chain of kindness to others also. To see the smiling faces and relief of St. Anthony's parish members when they received their gifts, that they were not expecting, truly warms anyone's heart! Our parishioners were very appreciative and offered prayers for your Church members who donated the gifts. God bless you and Thank you so much for your gifts and kindness.
— Love and prayers, St. Anthony's Catholic Church