Alternative Christmas card program feeds spiritual and physical hungers

Exclusive Christmas card offers God’s peace to the recipient
while the gift donation feeds the hungry in their honor.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives." With these words, recorded in John 14:27 (NRSV), Jesus promises to give us His peace. In a world where little peace can be found among the nations, Jesus desires to give peace to the hearts and minds of people who seek Him.

The peace of God is the theme for this year’s Christmas card gift donation program from the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA). Their exclusively designed Christmas card conveys the spiritually satisfying message of God’s peace, while the gift donation helps provide fresh food for the physical hunger of millions of Americans who don’t get enough to eat.

The Society of St. Andrew’s national hunger relief ministry (Advance Special #801600) uses more than 93 cents of every donated dollar to save excess fresh produce that will go to waste and give it to agencies that feed the hungry. SoSA reports that last year’s gift donation program provided nearly six million servings of nutritious vegetables and fruits to hungry families throughout the nation. “This popular alternative Christmas gift program continues to grow each year by leaps and bounds,” said Mike Waldmann, SoSA’s director of operations. “We anticipate being able to feed even more hungry people using the donations from this year’s effort.”

When you make a Christmas gift donation to the Society of St. Andrew to feed the hungry in the name of special people in your life, SoSA will send your honorees this year’s custom-designed Christmas card announcing your "gift." It’s a simple, common-sense way to feed the hungry, finish your Christmas shopping, and get your Christmas cards out all at the same time. And each $10 gift donation will help feed about 750 hungry people.

The one-of-a-kind Christmas card - twelfth in a series - was designed for the Society of St. Andrew through the generous donation of Annis McCabe, a prominent Virginia liturgical artist. The full color, 5" x 7" card features original art and scripture about God’s peace. The card also announces the name of the person who made the honorary donation.

This is an ideal gift for the person who has everything, a wonderful way to say "thank you," a terrific stocking stuffer, host/hostess or last-minute gift. No other gift can do so much, for so many, with so little. Those who participate in the Christmas Card Gift Donation program also receive the card confirming the number of people they honored along with the thanks of the Society of St. Andrew on behalf of the thousands of needy people fed.

Orders can be placed by phone (800-333-4597), fax (434-299-5949), or online via email (card@endhunger.org), or secure web site (www.endhunger.org/card). Or mail orders with donation to the Society of St. Andrew, 3383 Sweet Hollow Road, Big Island, Virginia 24526. Orders should be received by December 1 to ensure delivery by Christmas. The Society of St. Andrew will make every effort to expedite late orders.

Minimum gift donation for each card is $10. Be sure to provide: Names and addresses of your recipients and how you want each card signed; your name, address, daytime phone number and email; if charging to your VISA, MasterCard or American Express, provide your account number and expiration date. Checks should be made payable to the Society of St. Andrew.

More information about the Society of St. Andrew's national hunger relief work through its Gleaning Network, Potato Project, Harvest of Hope, and Hunger Relief Advocate Initiative is available at www.endhunger.org.