Coordinator’s Corner

Gifts of Hope: An exciting, successful program. You make it work!

It is not an understatement that congregational coordinators are the key to the success of GIFTS OF HOPE. YOU introduce and promote the program to your congregation. YOU make GIFTS OF HOPE an important part of your congregation’s Advent and Christmas seasons. YOU conduct the sales events, receive and account for the proceeds, and YOU see that the necessary records are kept. The thousands of less fortunate people who benefit from GIFTS OF HOPE every year depend on YOU for the blessings that they receive through this program. Thank you for your help in making GIFTS OF HOPE work.

Items in Your Packet

Packets were delivered by your Conference Coordinator. Some items in the packet may be downloaded from this web site. If any of these items is missing from your package of materials, contact your Conference Coordinator or print from the web site.  All files below are PDF except for Publicity which is a Word file. PDF files require (Acrobat Reader, click here to download if necessary).

1. Current Catalog
2. GIFTS OF HOPE Cards – (cannot be printed from the web site)
3. Envelopes for Cards -    (cannot be printed from the web site)
4. Gift Description Inserts —Masters, 39 sheets with 4 per page. Use to make copies to hand out with cards.
5. Order Form—Master, use to make copies for sales events and bulletin inserts.
6. Deposit Summary Form —Master, make enough copies to have one for each sales event.
7. Synod Remittance Report —Make two copies, one for congregational record, one to send to the Gifts of Hope Treasurer. The original is sent to the synod office as the final report.
8. Guidelines for Accounting for Gifts of Hope Proceeds.
9. Publicity materials (see below or Word file).

Gifts of Hope Guidelines

(Please review and share with other members of your committee.)

The Current GIFTS OF HOPE Catalog contains 39 gifts, at various prices, that can be purchased by members of your congregation (and others) and given to deserving people through our Metro DC Synod’s social ministry organizations, Lutheran camps, college and seminary; and our foreign companion synods in El Salvador, Namibia and Slovakia.

Your congregation may add a 40th gift of your choosing, if you wish. Please limit to one additional gift.

Organize sales events before or after services during Advent (or before) and at other events such as Christmas concerts, children’s programs, etc.

What to do

Before the Advent season:
• Form a team trying to involve people who attend different services and are involved in different groups.
• Use publicity materials below or write your own article for your October, November and December newsletters and bulletins
• Consider innovative methods, such as using Christmas lights at your table, having a display made of large stuffed animals holding Gifts of Hope posters, giving a temple talk, or inserting the order form into a Sunday bulletin to generate interest in Gifts of Hope.
• Make copies of Order forms, Gift Description Inserts, and other forms for which you have the Master.
• Give the Guidelines for Accounting for Gifts of Hope Proceeds to the treasurer.

At each sales event:
• Members of your congregation review the Current GIFTS OF HOPE Catalog and select the gift or gifts that they want to purchase.
• At sales events organized by you and your committee, shoppers complete the Order Form and give it to you, together with their payment, check or cash. If a receipt is requested for cash, fill out a duplicate Order form, sign and date it.
• In return, you give to the purchaser three things for each gift purchased: 1) a GIFTS of Hope card (front/back and inside), 2) an envelope, and 3) an insert describing the gift that was purchased.
• The purchaser, in turn, puts each insert in a card and gives the card to a friend or loved one as a gift.

At the end of each sales event:
• Complete the Deposit Summary Form which totals and summarizes the purchases that were made at each sales event. Keep all Summary Forms until the end of the program.
• Transmit the Order Forms to the person in the congregation who keeps the records of members’ giving.
• Transmit the cash and checks to the congregation treasurer to be deposited in the usual manner that your congregation handles receipts, making sure that the treasurer understands that the amount is for GIFTS OF HOPE

After the campaign is over:
• Complete the Synod Remittance Report by adding up all the weekly Deposit Summary Forms. Be sure your congregation’s number is filled in the upper right hand box. If you are unsure of your number and it has not been preprinted, contact your treasurer or email John Clark at johnclark31@verizon.net.
• Verify with your treasurer the amount to be remitted to the Synod (for gifts 1–39 only) and ensure that the form and check are mailed to the Synod by January 15.
• Send a copy of the Synod Remittance Report to the Gifts of Hope treasurer whose name and address is indicated on the form.
• And, if applicable, arrange for the direct disbursement of your congregation’s gift #40.
• Write an article for your January or February newsletter, thanking the congregation and reporting the total amount of gifts purchased.

The key to your success will be your efforts in organizing your congregation’s GIFTS OF HOPE committee, in publicizing GIFTS OF HOPE to your congregation and in organizing and running your sales events.

GOD’S BLESSINGS be upon you in the coming GIFTS OF HOPE season and THANK YOU for agreeing to be your congregation’s coordinator.

Publicity Materials - 2011

Coordinators, please consider starting Gifts of Hope on or before Advent, which begins on November 27.   Sundays of Advent in December are Dec. 4, 11 and 18.  Here are announcements that you may use for church bulletins and newsletters (or you can write your own article).   You may copy and paste directly from the web site.  Be sure to add information about when and where the sales events will be held at your congregation.  Be sure to provide your contact information.

Give More Hope:
Give more hope to children.
Give more hope to the homeless.
Give more hope to those who seek work.
Give more hope to those who need sustenance.
Give more hope to those who need medical or dental care.
Give more hope to those who want to improve their daily lives.

How can you give more hope?   Participate in the Gifts of Hope program.

Gifts of Hope—Help those in need while you shop for Christmas!
Today you can purchase a Gift of Hope for a friend or relative while making a contribution to someone who is in need.  You will receive a beautiful Christmas card and an explanation of your purchase, while the actual gift will be forwarded to the organization which helps those in need.  Visit the Gifts of Hope tables between or after worship services to make your purchases, look at the catalog of 40 gift ideas, or get more information.  The cost of gifts ranges from $5 to $250.  View the catalog at www.GiftsofHopeMetroDC.org.

Gifts of Hope—Shop, Receive and Give:
Would you like to give a unique gift to your loved one this Christmas season?  Would you also like your purchase to benefit those in need?  You can do both with a purchase of a Gift of Hope.  The 2011 Gifts of Hope Catalog has 40 different gifts, with prices ranging from $5.00 to $250.00.  These gifts support the mission and programs of area Lutheran social ministry organizations, camps, college or seminary, and our Synod’s companion synods abroad.  Your Gifts of Hope purchases will bring hope to others while you honor those on your gift list.  View all the participating organizations on the back of the catalog or on the web at www.GiftsofHopeMetroDC.org.

For each gift you select from the catalog you will receive a Christmas card to present to your honored loved one.  The card will include a description of your purchased gift and beneficiary organization.  Give the card and gift description to your honored loved one.   Your Gift of Hope is guaranteed to benefit those in need and to please those on your shopping list.

Make a Difference and Simplify Your Life:
Participating in the Gifts of Hope program also makes a difference in your life.   When you purchase from the Gifts of Hope Catalog and benefit those in need, you will also save time, save gas, avoid the rush and commercialization of the holidays.  No need to find gift boxes or wrap presents.  Let Gifts of Hope do the work for you!  Just choose the gifts, reduce your shopping list, and help others.