Rapid City First UMC hosted their first annual "Santa's Workshop" event in mid-December. The “Elf Project” invited the families from Wilson Elementary School to join with members at the church for an afternoon of fellowship and Christmas craft- and gift-making. 

Volunteers from the church worked with children to make soup mixes, picture frames, bracelets and necklaces, hot cocoa mix and chocolate spoons. The children even made a batch of laundry soap, which was then donated to the Cornerstone Rescue Mission. Other volunteers from the church worked with the parents to make and fill a stocking for their children, to make a set of gift cards for friends and family, and to make a Christmas mug and Clorox "Snowman" for the staff of Wilson Elementary.  The adults also wrapped Shoebox Christmas boxes, made hygiene kits and cut out school bag patterns for the HOPE Center. Everyone finished-up the evening with a wonderful, sit-down dinner served by the youth. At the dinner they also took family portraits and read the Christmas story to the children.

Photos: Wilson Elementary students and Rapid City FIrst UMC volunteers worked on many different Christmas craft projects.

This was a great experience for all of the guests from Wilson Elementary and especially for the members of the church who volunteered at the event. Each and every guest asked the same question before leaving: "Are you going to do this again next year?" As a church seeking to share God's love with those in the community, they responded with an emphatic "YES!" 

After delivering the teacher and staff gifts to the school, Pastors Greg Kroger and John Britt met with school Principal Robin Gillespie to further develop a relationship between the church and the school. Those involved look forward to continuing this project, to be His hands and feet to neighbors in need!