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CompactCommunity $100 Project - Open Home Gifts |
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 The Open Home Foundation children received an extra special Christmas blessing in 2006, as part of the Wilkinson’s Home group community impact project - with gifts totaling to a value of $2800!
 Vicky Creedon (OHF) receives the presents
We came up with the idea of approaching the Taranaki branch of "The Open Home Foundation (OHF)" (www.ohfint.co.nz), a Christian organisation which, amongst other things, arrange for children in difficult family circumstances to be placed in foster care. The idea was to ask if we could do something that would enable us to give a Christmas present to each child on their register.  The staff at the OHF were close to tears when they heard our proposal, so we knew we were on the right track, but we had to act fast with less than two and a half weeks till Christmas."
"Their register held 39 boys and girls ranging in age from six months to seventeen years. We worked out a strategy to invite businesses to partner with us, committing it to the Lord. We wrote an introductory letter which was distributed amongst the local businesses. We give glory to the Lord for opening the hearts, purses and stock supplies of roughly 70 businesses in New Plymouth, Inglewood, Bell Block and Oakura to create a memorable Christmas for these children. We estimate that we received over $2800 worth of gifts. We decided early on to accept whatever was offered - so coffee vouchers, chain store cards and many other gift vouchers were converted into cash to add to the toys and merchandise also donated.
We then carried out the "Big Wrap" – an enormous task of sorting and wrapping the mountain of presents, including balls, skateboards, books and radios. We purchased other items using the cash from the vouchers, or had items gifted, in order to fill any gaps and ensure that each child received at least five gifts, (most presents contained several items, to save both time and wrapping paper!).
 We wanted to give credit to those businesses that contributed to our project and had told them we would get the “Taranaki Daily News” involved. Andrea contacted the paper and arranged for a reporter to be at the gift drop off at the OHF offices. However, there was a mix up, and the reporter was unable to find the venue, so Andrea gave a telephone interview later that day. Due to this set back we thought our story would be a small article, somewhere near the back (or not even appear at all) because of the way things had transpired with the reporter. However, we were placed on the FRONT PAGE! The issue on Thursday, December 21st shows a beaming Vicky Creedon from OHF under a Christmas tree and a title "Businesses get behind gift appeal for children".
It’s been amazing how things have come together and worked out, God exceeding our own expectations, changing hope and faith mixed with work into abundance and evidence for all to see.
I think I speak for all when I say that our first hope is that the kids are blown away, read the gospel pamphlet placed in one of each child's gifts and our Lord Jesus be honoured. The second hope I have is that more in our fellowship are inspired to join a compact community, so we are obedient to the Bible's command to be unified in Christ by meeting often to build strong Christian relationships and therefore a strong church.
Much love and best wishes for the New Year
From the Kendal Place CCG"
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