Modesto mission short on gifts for teens, adults

Faced with a large shortfall for their annual Christmas giveaway, people at the Modesto Gospel Mission hope you’ll find a moment to grab an item or two for those in need while scrambling to finish your own holiday shopping.

It’s as simple as picking up an extra pair of warm slippers or a scarf.

The mission still needs hundreds of gifts for needy and homeless teenagers and adults for its Dec. 23 Happy Birthday Jesus Party. The party serves about 2,500 people with dinner, a celebration and gifts.

This year, they have plenty of toys for children, who make up about half of those expected to attend, according to Anastasia Carroll, mission director of development. It’s gifts for the older kids as well as for men and women where they’re coming up short.

“For many of the people we serve, this may be the only gift they get,” Carroll said in an email interview. “It may be the only warm Christmas meal they get.”

Carroll said ideas for items to donate include basketballs, soccer balls and baseballs, wallets, shampoo and shower sets, earbuds, slippers and manicure sets for teen boys and men; jewelry, nail polish sets, cosmetics and brush sets, slippers and scarves for teen girls and women.

“It is always a challenge to have enough ... for the older kids/adults,” Carroll said. “People tend to think about the little ones, and they are easier to shop for.”

Donations can be taken at any hour at the mission’s donation dock at 1400 Yosemite Blvd. “We are open 24 hours a day,” Carroll added.

This is also the time of year when the mission gathers most of its annual revenue, she said, helping it get through the leaner months at the beginning of the new year.

“Because we don’t take government funds, we rely on the generosity of the community. We would also like to remind the community to please remember Modesto Gospel Mission in your year-end giving.”

The Modesto Gospel Mission has been holding its Happy Birthday Jesus Party for about 20 years, providing gifts, entertainment and a warm holiday meal for the homeless who find overnight shelter there, for people in their programs and those in need from all over the community. Many, Carroll said, come annually from the city’s airport district.

“I’m not sure if people are aware that a lot of people in the airport district don’t even have electricity,” she said. “This is an opportunity for them to really help the least of the least in our community.”

For more on the Modesto Gospel Mission and how to help, call 209-529-8259 or visit www.modestogospelmission.org.

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 10:30 PM with the headline "Modesto mission short on gifts for teens, adults."