Mychal's Message

THANKS TO YOUR DONATIONS …

From Turkeys to Toys: Local Nonprofit Delivers Christmas to 20 Families—Just in Time

Lancaster, PA — December 20, 2025

Local nonprofit Mychal’s Message is once again turning generosity into action this Christmas through its 11th Annual WISH Distribution, bringing gifts and a full holiday meal to 20 local families with a combined 75 children on Saturday, December 20 at 10:00 a.m. at McCaskey High School.

Thanks to a generous donation from the real Santa, Mychal’s Message was able to purchase Christmas gifts for children identified through the Office for Displaced Families, formerly known as the Lancaster Homeless Student Project.

The WISH Project begins simply—with children’s wish lists. Mychal’s Message becomes the bridge, ensuring Santa’s gifts reach children who might otherwise wake up Christmas morning with nothing under the tree.

Among the most requested items this year were basketballs and footballs, Barbie dolls, Wicked crocs, nail care sets, and educational toys—all carefully selected, purchased, and wrapped to reflect the unique wishes of each child.

In addition to gifts, every family will receive ingredients to prepare a full Christmas dinner at home. When longtime meal partner Bob Evans closed this year, co-founders Sharon Hickey and her daughter, Kelly Ann Lynch, pivoted quickly.

Using a $40 Aldi holiday meal as a starting point, volunteers assembled dinners that include:

• 20 turkeys

• 200 pounds of potatoes

• 100 pounds of carrots

• Ingredients for stuffing, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pies, butter and dinner rolls

But even that plan hit a last-minute snag. The turkeys scheduled for pickup on December 19—just one day before distribution—were sold out.

Once again, the community answered the call. One couple donated three frozen turkeys, another woman donated three more, several donors contributed funds, and additional turkeys arrived just in time on Friday afternoon—ensuring every family would have a centerpiece for their Christmas table.

All gifts were lovingly wrapped by One Voice Youth Ministry, while St. Leo the Great Church contributed 20 grocery gift cards through its Giving Tree program. Each family will also receive a red envelope containing a grocery gift card to help meet additional holiday needs.

Founded in 2001, Mychal’s Message is powered by a small but devoted group of volunteers committed to serving the homeless and poor with compassion, creativity, and collaboration.

“This will be a beautiful Christmas,” organizers say—one built on generosity, perseverance, and neighbors showing up for neighbors.

This real man says, "We're just like everybody else. We just had a streak of bad luck.”

These are the people on whose behalf we accept donations. Take a minute and watch this.

Tenfold reopens overnight winter shelter in converted Lancaster parking garage Tenfold is opening its overnight shelter in Lancaster on Dec. 1, offering 40 beds and warm beverages to support those experiencing homelessness during the winter months.

THANKS TO YOUR DONATIONS, Sharon Hickey—who, by the grace of God is getting stronger every day—was at Aldi today purchasing all the canned and dry goods for 20 local families who will receive everything to make a Christmas dinner this year. These families have been identified by the Lancaster Office for Displaced Families (formerly the Homeless Student Coalition). When it gets closer to the drop off date, we will pick up the turkeys, butter, and other fresh items for their meals. All of the children in these families will receive Christmas presents. 

Where are our prayer cards going this week?

Kingston, New York
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Olympia, Washington
Medina, Ohio
McKinney, Texas
Lakeside, California
Fremont, New Hampshire

https://friars.us/article/2025/09/10/br.-chris-carries-on-legacy-of-hope-for-new-yorkers-in-need

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