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Faith Topics
Reaching Out at Christmastime
Tips for a Kids’ Caroling Party for the Needy
Organize a group of young carolers who will sing to neighbors for donations of food to the local food pantry. Here’s how to get started:
- Send invitations to children (8 to 12 years old). Include a description of the event, the time, the place, your phone number, and instructions to dress in warm clothing and bring a flashlight. Mail the invitations 10 to 14 days in advance.
- Give flyers to neighbors, informing them that carolers may stop by and ask them to contribute nonperishable food to your caroling food drive.
- Provide name tags.
- Set out plastic grocery sacks for each child expected.
- Choose five or six familiar Christmas carols and print the lyrics.
At the event:
- Upon arrival, have the children put on name tags and practice the words to the carols while they wait for others to arrive.
- Assign each child a buddy to stay with during the caroling.
- Distribute the grocery sacks. Remind the children to gather their flashlights and music sheets.
- Pray as a group that God will bless your neighbors with your songs.
- Give last-minute instructions, such as no crossing the street, no yelling, no running, etc.
- Have another adult follow along in a car to collect the food.
- At the first house, allow one of the children to explain that your group is caroling for food for the needy and to ask if they would like to contribute canned or packaged goods after you sing.
- Sing three carols at each house before accepting a food donation.
- When you return home, serve snacks and hot drinks to the children.
- Thank the group for reaching out to others in need and close in prayer.
Adapted from Redeeming the Season by Kim Wier and Pam McCune, a Focus
on the Family book.
Also consider sharing with your kids the meaning behind the lyrics to The
Twelve Days of Christmas this year.
Do you have thoughts, questions, advice on this topic? Post your stories and comments in the forum for other parents to respond to. Enter the forum now.
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Volume 3 of the Hymns for a Kid's Heart
series is accompanied by a full-length CD featuring orchestration
and children's ensemble.
Share
this collection
of timeless Christmas carols with the children you love.
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