BRANDON, SOUTH DAKOTA—Christmas was brighter for 41 families thanks to Celebration United Methodist Church in Brandon, South Dakota.  Christmas meal boxes were prayfully packed and delivered to families in the community who needed a little extra Christmas joy.

Photo: Members of Celebration UMC pack Christmas meal boxes to families who need a little extra joy and a nice Christmas meal.  Photo courtesy of Celebration.

“A wonderful way Celebration celebrates at Christmas time is through the Christmas Meal boxes. Each year funds are raised, boxes packed, and food delivered but, not before a circle was formed around all the packed boxes for a prayer,” said Rev. Joel Higgins, Celebration UMC.

The box has all of items needed to make a Christmas Dinner which consists of ham, potatoes, celery, carrots, apples, oranges, bread, hot chocolate, apple juice, brownies, whip cream and a pie .  Tucked in each box is an invitation to Christmas Eve services at Celebration and a copy of the Christmas story. 

Jackie Meieshimer, a member at Celebration organized the event.  Jackie and the mission team at Celebration raise funds through donations from church members for the contents needed for the boxes.  "We are thankful to have her here at the church as she uses her gifts and talents to make a difference," said Higgins.

Photo: 41 boxes packed with lots of food items, the Christmas story and an invitation to Chritmas Eve services at Celebration UMC.  Photo courtesy of Celebration.

Names for potential recipients of the boxes were solicited from school counselors and other contacts in the community.  One of the contacts sent the following message to Jackie Meishimer the project organizer. “Thank you for all your effort and work to set up and organize the Christmas food boxes!  I know the counselors at school have mentioned how grateful families are to receive these. One counselor told me they have never known of a church to be as generous as Celebration! “

This is the fourth year for the Christmas in a box program. The idea came from Canyon Lake United Methodist Church (CLUMC) in Rapid City, South Dakota where  Christmas meal boxes have been an annual event for many years.  This year CLUMC distributed 132 boxes. 

Chiristmas boxes of joy is one way the church reaches out to the community. Celebration UMC held Candlelight Christmas Eve services at 4 and 7 p.m.