Calvin's Annual Care Packages for College/University Students - 2026

 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 12   

Two years ago I gave you some interesting facts about the past 10 years, etc, so I thought I'd update that information below.  

It's been some years since we started doing this ministry, and I wanted to know when we started, so after going back to my old blog posts, I discovered it began way back in January 2015 

(but the first post was Feb 2016).   

So we've been doing this for 12 years now.  WOW! 

That first year, we prepared 30 packages for the Ottawa Campus Chaplaincy.  Calvin Congregants donated items that I asked for and on the evening of preparation, we prepared handmade cards, wrapped the boxes, and coloured the wrapping paper.  

Whew, what was I thinking : )!! 

In 2016 we did 60 packages. 

2017 - 114 packages

2018 -  144 packages

2019 - 174 packages 

2020 - 175 packages - and we stopped wrapping the boxes with paper, and just taped them.  : )  Saved a lot of time! Also, I just asked for donations of funds vs stuff.  It's actually easier.  :) 

2021 - 97 packages made by my family during COVID for the youth and young adults of Calvin CRC

2022 - 125 packages again made by my family during COVID and distributed to youth and young adults of Calvin CRC.  

2023 - back to regular packages for Ottawa Campus Chaplaincy and those in school from Calvin CRC.  175 of them. 

2024 - 175 packages once again. 

2025 -  150 boxes, down from our 175.  

2025 -  125 boxes.  

We had wonderful donors again, who contributed just over $3000 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 New Testament Bibles  1  box

2 Juice boxes   1 / box

3 Microwave popcorn   2 / box

4 Hand Sanitizers 1 / box

5 GoGo Squeez  1 / box

6 Tic Tac   1 / Box

7 Nestle full-sized chocolate bars  1 / box

8 Small tissue packets  1 / box

9 Gum packets   1 per box 

10 Rice Crispy squares - 2 / box

11 Hot Chocolate  2 / box 

12 Nature's Bakery Fig Bars  1 / box

13 Bear Paws - Chocolate Chip  1 / box

14 Celebration Mini Chocolate Chip in Packets - 1 / box

15 Trail mix  1 / box

16 Cheddar Cheese Goldfish 1 / box 

17 Kirkland Signature Soft & Chewy Granola Bars, 1.54 kg   - 2 / box

18 Fruitsations  2 / box

19 Brookside fruit and chocolate  1 / box

20 Sesame Snaps   1 / box

21 Oatmeal packages  1 / box

22 Earl Grey Tea packets 2 / box 

23 Herbal Tea's  - 2 / box

24 Werthers' originals  2 / box  each 135G back contains 26 candies

25 $5 tim's cards   1 / box 

26 Card  1 / box

The total number of pieces purchased and put into the boxes was 6500 - give or take a couple of hundred more : ) 

Thanks to all from Calvin who donated items or funds to make this possible. 

Here's what happened to make this event happen once again 

It all starts with a trip to Costco, and usually Loblaws, and Dollarama

Here's the end result.  Items just waiting for a home : ).  

Then, on Tuesday, January 27th, our Catechism Class, Youth Group, and some Young Adults gathered together to get the job done.  

Lewis looks happy and ready to help out.  

Alex is the same.  

Amelia and Evangline are working hard.  

As is Luke : ) All smiles. 

Can you see Colton?  

No smile Elenora?  

Anika, I hope those Wherther's don't drop all over the place : ) 

We had to bring the actual boxes downstairs as well. 

I put them together before we started.  Saves Time.  

Hmmmm,  interesting photo Maya : ) 

I showed them a trick where you can take 8 boxes at a time.  

 Whoa : ) 

Luke is coming through!  

All the items are now downstairs and ready to be placed in the boxes.  

I recruited Scott and Phil once again to help out.  

We also made cards again for the boxes.  Megan and Leanne (also brought out of retirement : ) ) headed that up with some grade 6 - 8's.   

And so the filling of boxes once again begins.  

Scott made sure things went into the boxes in the order I asked for.  

Alex, don't crush the goldfish : ) 

Yes Lewis, I'm taking a picture of you : ) 

Hey, Phil, it looks like you are gonna fall over : )  

I just noticed that. 

We crushed the boxes for recycling. 

Colton shows us how.  

Good job.  

Uhhhh ok Colton : ) 

We keep moving along.  

Scott started to organize the recycling.  

The boxes are filling up.  

And yes,  I actually worked again : ) 

One full box, complete with a card ready for taping.  

Nice organizing, Scott!! 

Soooo, we (I) may have gotten a wee bit more this year than last year, even without including some items of last year.  

So I had to have us pack the boxes so there was no air pockets : ) 

There, finished.  

125 boxes are ready to bless students.  

Thanks to all who helped out this year. 

After the annual picture, we bring the boxes upstairs for storage until I can get them to Ryan for distribution, as well as people in Calvin who are students.  Alex, that's a lot of boxes  : ) 

Oh, and Rebecca helped us out too.  Thanks. : ) 

Time to clean up the card-making tables.  

Whew, sure was a noisy endeavour :) 

Everything is packed and compacted.   

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

Until next year D.V.  

Art and Hobby Celebration presented by Calvin's Fellowship Committee

Over the years I have blogged many repeat events, such as our pancake breakfasts, care packages (yes another post coming after this one) and others.  Today, however, I have the privilege of posting a new ministry event that was just held here at Calvin.  

Our Fellowship Committee tries to provide opportunities for Congregational interactions to build faith and fellowship.  As we discussed this back in 2025, Phil, a member of the committee, suggested we do an Art/Hobby Celebration event.  

The idea was as follows: 

On behalf of the fellowship committee, we would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us in celebrating the creative gifts God has given us.

Maybe making cards this season has become your new interest. Maybe you just learned how to sew or are a long-time crocheter, or perhaps baking is more your passion? Maybe you received a couple of new items for Christmas to add to your collection that you would like to show off.

Or maybe you are looking for a new hobby or want to learn new tips, tricks and techniques.

On Saturday January 24, from 2 - 4 p.m., we hope to hold an event highlighting arts and hobbies in Calvin's Fellowship Hall

Each artist or hobbyist will have a designated table or space in the fellowship hall where they can display or talk about their passion. We will spend time visiting each other’s tables.

The purpose of this event is not to sell things but rather to encourage each other, inspire each other and glorify God with the gifts he has given us. And who knows, we may learn something new.

We hope to create an environment that is fun, not intimidating. We are all learning and growing, so no pressure... You just have to enjoy what you do.

So we invited people to sign up for a table to display their Art/Hobby.  

We ended up with 16 participants.  

AMAZING !!! : ) 

On January 24th, starting at 1:15 p.m. ish, they gathered in the fellowship hall of Calvin CRC and set up.  Just before our starting time of 2 p.m. we gathered together and opened in prayer.  I will go table by table and insert what was in our brochure for the day.  

I confess I may have missed a couple of people, and I apologize to those I may have missed.   

"Instrument Repair and Guitar Kit Building” 

by Michael 

Caring for your instruments is simple and only needs a few tools. Come and find out what you need to do to make your instrument play well and look great! 

I also enjoy building guitar kits, and I'll have a new kit that I'll be working on while we are at the show! 

“Art Quilting” 

by Cheryl 

Wall and bed quilts that are more like art than like

 traditional quilts

 

“Imperfect Creations” 

by Gabby 

Creative practice often comes with a pressure to make a perfect product, and that can often prevent people from enjoying their God-given creativity. 

At this table, Gabby will be sharing some of her recent creative endeavours - both finished and unfinished, the inspiration behind the works, and encouragement to take up the mantle and make bad art yourself.

“Calvin Quilters” 

by various Calvin members 

We make quilts for individuals who need a "hug".  To date, we have made quilts for several organizations to bring cheer and comfort.  

We rely on donations of cotton fabric from individuals as well as scouring thrift stores for good buys.  Calvin donates the quilt batting. Currently, we are a group of 5 - 7 ladies who meet bi-weekly at Calvin to sew.  If you would like to learn and have a sewing machine, you are welcome to come.

 “Two Lefties Playing!” 

by Gwen & Bill 

Bill will share pictures of the woodworking tables/desk/quilt ladder that he built, as well as two barn quilts.

Gwen will show quilts, including one huge wall hanging, free motioned, crocheted Afghan, memory jewelry art piece, small gifts made, with instructions where to get free patterns.

Oh, we also provided Coffee, Tea, Juice and goodies for people to rejuvenate 

“Antique Egg Beaters and 

Brass Candle Stick Holders” 

by Dorothy

Collections gathered from going to flea markets, auctions and garage sales

“My childhood during World War II: 

The miracle of our family's survival”  

 by Ineke  

I started writing these books to understand my scattered memories of WWII. It turned out to be a story for others to read and fear.

The first book "One Thousand Fears"  is the true story of my experiences and survival based on memory, family documents, and historic documents.  The other books are historical fiction books situated in the same time and place  as the nonfiction -- to present a more dramatic representation of what we experienced during and after the war -  

a war is not over when the guns stop firing.

"Cardmaking” 

by Betty 

Cardmaking for different occasions.  

“Crochet by Chris”  

by  Christine

 

Random items that I crochet when I have time

or to de-stress

A picture of the fellowship hall full of exhibitors ready for guests to arrive. 

From the other side of the fellowship hall. 

We also put couches in the middle so people could just rest as they visited with us.  

“Puzzles, Puzzles, Puzzles”  

by Sarah and Cheryl 

Do you like puzzling or does it frustrate you? 

 Sarah and Cheryl will share the joy of puzzling with you, and techniques to help with borders and connecting piece to piece.  

Cheryl's children also came and demonstrated their talent in Lego building.  

Awesome!  

“Joy in the Process: 

Art, Oceans and other means”

 by Megan 

I enjoy experimenting with different mediums such as acrylic and texture paints, watercolours, oil pastels, felt pens and papers.

Art can be a powerful tool for growth, learning and healing. Though, sometimes it is easy to forget the fun when we are our own worst critic or tend to have a perfectionistic mindset.  I’m on a journey of learning to find joy in the process of creating.

“Wood crafts” 

by Jonah

Wood crafts made with laser cutting and traditional tools

“Digital Illustration”

by Miranda 

Story illustrations and designs drawn with a stylus and tablet

“Book Signing of ‘Tom Thomson: Journal of My Last Spring’ and Watch Battery Replacement”  

by Tim

Author of published book Tom Thomson: Journal of My Last Spring. Available signed copies in return for a donation to charity as well as replacing watch batteries for free or for donation.

“Philip’s Glass Art” 

by Philip 

Displayed here you can find examples of some of the stained glass projects and various woodworking projects I have undertaken over the years. I greatly enjoy the sculptural side of stained glass and finding ways in which I can incorporate it with other mediums such as wood and furniture.

“Faith Through Art” 

 by Lloyd

Various drawings based on Christian themes.

We had about 40 ish people show up. 

We felt it was a great success and hope to offer this again. 

If you missed it, hopefully you will be able to come next time as a participant or a guest who wishes to learn and support. 

Thanks for the idea, Phil, and the fellowship committee for all your hard work: 

Megan, Phil, Gabby and Chelesy

Until next time D.V.