2025 Care Packages

 Hey all, 

Welcome back to my Blog.  

It's January once again.  Time sure goes by quick. 

It seems just a short time ago that we were preparing care packages.  

Well, once again, we have done it. 

Year 11   

Last year I gave you some interesting facts about the past 10 years, etc, so you can go to that post to look all that up. 

This year we prepared 150 boxes, down from our 175.  

We had wonderful donors again, who contributed just over $2600 this year.   Prices have gone up, so I decided to curb the number of boxes.  

Here's what went into the boxes this time around (Some NEW items, and keeping out some older items)

1. Werther's originals 
2. Hot Chocolate  2 / box 
3. Juice boxe 1 / box (NEW)
4. Nature's Bakery Fig Bars - 1 / box (NEW)
5. Bear Paws - Chocolate Chip - 1 / box (NEW)
6. Herbal Teas - 2 / box
7. Oatmeal packages  3 / box
8. Mr. Noodle  1 / box
9. Celebration Mini Chocolate Chip in Packets - 1 / box
10. Trail mix   1 / box (NEW)
11. Nestle full-sized chocolate bars  1 / box
12. Kirkland Signature Soft & Chewy Granola Bars, 1.54 kg   - 2 / box
13. Small tissue packets -  1 / box
14. Gum packets -   1 per box plus extra
15. Microwave popcorn   2 / box
16. Swiss milk chocolate 
17. Fruitsations  2 / box
18. Brookside fruit and chocolate   - 1 / box (NEW)
19. Kirkland dip and chewy bars  - 1 / box
20. Lindt =- lindor chocolate balls - 1 / box (NEW)
21. Rice Crispy squares - 1 / box
22. $5 tim's cards   1 / box 
23. Card  1 / box

Thank you to all who donated to this annual ministry event.  

It all starts with a trip to Costco : ) 

as well as Loblaws and Food Basics, 

but the bulk of the shopping is done at Costco. 

Since we have a vacant office this year, 

I put all the supplies in there this time.  

On the day, I prepared the 150 boxes to save a bit of time.  

Leanne and Megan getting the supplies ready for those doing cards. 

Those that have arrived to participate.  

I thought there was Catechism last night too, but I actually goofed, so those that came were recruited as well.  

First, we get the supplies upstairs to the downstairs.  

Sisters hard at work. : ) 

We had mentors come to help out as well.  

Thanks for coming Salvador

Theo taking the heavier stuff.  

Now to get organized. 

I asked Phil to come and help again, and pulled Scott out of retirement for this evening.  He was glad to help out again too. Thanks to you both.  

Laying out all 150 boxes.  

And starting to fill them. 

The Catechism group was recruited to make cards. 

They had LOOTTSSS of fun : )

And even got some cards done as well. : ) 

It's always fun to fill the boxes.  

Hmmm, what to put in next?  

Filling continues. 

This year they got pretty full, thanks to some of the bigger items I purchased. 

Good thing I scaled down a weeee bit in the number of items I got or the boxes may not have closed : ) 

Rohan and his friend arrived late, so they also did card duty, 

but they were happy to do it.  

Theo found ways to exert the least amount of energy as he flattened boxes : ) 

Once full, Phil added the $5 Tim's cards and the other cards made by us. 

And then these wonderful people made sure the boxes would actually close : )  

Then Fred and Theo (mentor/mentee) sealed them shut.  

I discovered that those temperamental packing guns have a tensioner on them and if you adjust it, they actually don't stick as much. 

Go figure : ) 

The card-making group grew so we could get the boxes packed sooner than later.  

Finished!!  

Way to go team! 

Then it was time to store them.  

Theo wanted to try to be the one to hold the most boxes. 

I think he has 8 here.  

Cute way to store them : ) 

Thanks once again to all who donated funds towards this ministry event. Thanks to our youth and mentors who came out to make this happen once again. 

Now it's time to hand the boxes out and bless those who God has prepared to be blessed.