At Christmas time, Christmas trees are placed at both St. Pat's Downtown and St. Pat's Crane Road as a way of sharing with those who are struggling because of poverty or difficult times. Ornaments describing gift items are placed on the trees. Parishioners are invited to buy the gift and return it to the church from which the ornament was taken. The ornaments are attached and the gifts are left in bags or wrapped. Gift cards can be placed in the collection or dropped off at the Parish office on Crane Road. Parish volunteers sort and deliver the gifts with the love of Christ.
Giving Tree gifts and gift cards support the following local organizations:
Association for Individual Development (AID) serves over 5,700 children and adults with developmental, intellectual, physical and/or mental health challenges.
Catholic Charities in Rockford is a federation of several agencies throughout the 11 counties of the Diocese of Rockford, which delivers, coordinates and advocates for quality human services and programs touching almost every human need.
Corbella Clinic provides life-affirming, free, and confidential medical and support services to women and couples during and after an unexpected pregnancy. All services are offered in English and Spanish.
Fox Valley Food for Health provides healthy, nutrient-rich meals to individuals and families going through serious illness. Most individuals and families are going through cancer treatment.
Fox Valley Hands of Hope provides compassionate guidance and support to children, families, and adults who are experiencing grief, loss, or life-threatening illness, at no cost to clients.
Marklund provides residential, educational, and therapeutic services to children, teens and adults with serious and profound developmental disabilities and special healthcare needs as well as those on the Autism spectrum.
St. Vincent de Paul Society provides temporary and immediate relief to the poor and those who are in need by feeding, clothing, housing, and healing individuals and families.