Hundreds of people received food, blankets, jackets and toys during the 2019 Joy Distribution

December 21st was a crisp morning with beautiful blue skies, a long line forming just outside the YLM campus a reminder of what many were needing during this holiday season.  It wasn’t only about the food, blankets, toys and jackets scheduled to be given out, but about kindness, caring smiles, compassionate words, and the love of God overflowing from those who were there to serve their neighbor.

Member of Zaragoza Rotary Club of El Paso helps fill boxes with food staples, oranges, milk, bread, meat and a blanket for an elderly man

“It was a truly joyous Saturday morning as everything went smoothly,” Rev Dr. Karl Heimer, CEO of Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) shared in regards to the Joy Distribution, “God brought the people who needed help, He brought the people who wanted to help, and He supplied what was needed for this day.”

While people were picking up food baskets, including bread, oranges, produce, milk, and meat products, they also received blankets donated by organizations and groups such as Tenderheartz and Lutheran Women’s Missionary Leagues throughout the United States.  From fleece, quilts, afghans and crocheted blankets, these were a beautiful gesture of love and caring to families who rarely experience either from strangers.

Rotary member helps carry boxes loaded with food and blankets to vehicles

The Zaragoza Rotary Club of El Paso had 15 members partnering with 10 members of San Pablo Lutheran Church inside, and outside, the warehouse where majority of the people headed to pick up food and blankets.  Working together, they all were able to keep the line moving, the smiles on peoples’ faces bringing home to many of these volunteers what their simple acts of kindness were doing –bringing joy to people who were struggling during this Christmas season.

The second line moved just as quickly as people exchanged their registration tickets for children’s jackets, donated by Operation Noel, toys collected year-round from individuals and organizations, along with children’s books.  With the help of 11 people involved with a Doña Ana County football league for kids 5-13 years old, the jackets and toys were given out with smiles and exuberance.  Several of the kids in the Little Redskins football team are from low-income families, living in high-risk neighborhoods.  “It is our intention to help these kids learn what it means to serve those who have less than they do,” Coach Joe shared when he visited the YLM campus to ask about volunteer opportunities, “We want them to have the chance to become leaders by learning to serve others, and this is a great place for them to learn how to do that.”

Young man from Little Redskins football team helps give out jackets and toys

The kids worked together to help deliver toys, jackets, and even assisted people in carrying their food baskets to vehicles.  On top of giving their Saturday morning to serving their community, they also brought in over fifty toys collected during their first Toy Run.  What a joy it was to watch them interact with the very people they collected toys for!  The mother of one of the Little Redskins’ players shared how excited her child was to come help.  “This morning, he said to me, ‘We get to help and we’ll go where Jesus leads, mama.’”

Boys from the Doña Ana County Little Redskins football team help carry box loaded with food items and blankets

Where Jesus leads –for so many people, YLM is exactly where God leads them, whether it’s to help others or to be helped.  God’s love, grace, and mercy are abundantly felt and given at this humble place where people seek to change lives every day through simple acts of kindness.  By early afternoon, 469 food baskets and 369 blankets were given out, 274 kids received toys and 430 were given jackets donated by Operation Noel…and this is only for the Lower Valley El Paso community!

Distributions in Juarez are anticipated in the next couple of weeks to celebrate Epiphany, also known as “Día de Los Reyes”.  Many children from low-income families in Mexico are used to receiving their gifts, if they receive any at all, on Epiphany Day.  For this reason, Iglesias Luteranas La Santa Biblia, Cristo Rey and San Lucas, mission-churches in the Anapra area, will be distributing over 400 blankets, toys and jackets next month, while San Pedro and San Pablo, located in Kilometro 30, have already given out 27 jackets and will be giving out just as many toys and blankets to the small community.

At the end of the day, everyone was so full of joy as they celebrated the wonderful time had as they helped their community.  It truly was a blessed experience to see the abundance of love, compassion and kindness overflowing from person to person.

May your own Christmas be full of joy!