In December, CCSC hosted its 27th Jingle Bell Express program, and the event was an astounding success. In five days, the activity center at Bellaire United Methodist Church was transformed into a “North Pole” filled with dolls, scooters, sports equipment, board games, picture books, canned goods and more.
As always, CCSC member churches and many generous local organizations rallied to provide high quality donations and volunteer support. Throughout the event, you could feel a solid neighbor-to-neighbor connection as underprivileged children were gifted with new toys and books, and their families received holiday food packages.
Jingle Bell Express was created in 1980 – shortly after CCSC’s founding – as our organization recognized that its clientele was especially in crisis around the holidays. Unique in design, the program allows parents a dignified and personal way to be involved in the gift-giving process, since each person hand-selects items for his/her children.
Thank you for sharing Christmas joy with those in need! A few program highlights:
• 3,111 children (infancy through age 15) received new toys and books. Their 907 families received holiday food packages. An additional 91 children from 24 families were served as “walk-in” clients, and received toys, books and food packages, as resources allowed.
• The program was offered to clients living in 27 zip codes. The top five zip codes served were located in Gulfton, the Heights, the near northeast side, and east of Downtown (77081, 77009, 77026, 77007, 77020). Approximately 59% of all registered clients live in these combined areas.
• 49% of children registered were female; 51% male.
• 95% of clients registered were of Hispanic descent; 4% African American; 1% all other ethnicities combined.
• 97% of clients who pre-registered in October attended the event.
• 975 volunteers contributed to the Sort, Set Up and Distribution phases of Jingle Bell Express!
Thank you for being a special part of Jingle Bell Express!
You made a huge difference in the lives of others.
For more information see CCSC, or call 713-961-3993