A young boy, underprivileged, does not get a lot.  During the Christmas season, the church offers the child the time of his life, or what might appear like it from his perspective.  He enters the church and sees a stage full of gifts. Options range far, but this boy spots a large nerf gun, nothing he would ever imagine getting. The boy receives the toy along with school supplies, a hat, gloves, does a craft, and hears the nativity story. 

Cornerstone Community Church makes this story a reality. Rachel Curry, 20, lives in Kensington, Philadelphia and volunteers at the Cornerstone Community Church often. She describes Kensington as “a very poor neighborhood.” Several people in Kensington struggle with drug addiction and homelessness, and the children are underprivileged. Curry tells about the avid givers towards the people in need in this area during the Christmas season. 

Many people, especially during Christmas time, feel compelled to give. Calvary Church of Souderton has donated toys in the past to children in the Kensington area. Curry notes that the Church gives to show the love of Jesus. She says the large corporations, such as Walmart, give because of the Christmas spirit. “They just want to be able to spread happiness,” Curry says. 

An article from USA today says that 18% of all donations to charities is given during the month of December. The article states that there is an increase in giving during the holiday season. People view the Christmas season as a time of not only receiving gifts, but also giving to those in need. 

Samaritan’s Purse is a large organization that people donate to during Christmas time. The people who give receive a shoe box to fill for a child of a specific age. Samaritan’s Purse has over 1,000 volunteers and they ship boxes to more than 100 different countries. 

Samaritan’s Purse is one of the many organizations Rick and Rachel Moyer donate to. Rick and Rachel give monthly to several different organizations. Some of these include New Life Ministries, Across Nations, and North Care Women’s Clinic. 

However, during the Christmas season, the Moyer couple give special gifts. They give love gifts to the missionaries whom they support. On occasion, the Moyers also donate to the Salvation Army during Christmas time. 

Rachel Moyer says that she loves to give and advises others to give if “they give out of the sincerity of their heart.” Rick Moyers adds, “there is always a blessing in giving.”

The couple say that giving is definitely worth it. Rick says, “it helps you realize how much you have been blessed in so many ways”, and that it is a joy to give back to those in need. 

Rick and Rachel Moyer have been raising money and giving for the majority of their lives. They rode on their bicycles across the country twice while in their sixties to raise money for certain organizations. The couple raised money for South America Mission, Trail of Hope and New Life Youth and Family Services. When asked why they give, Rachel Moyer says “because we are blessed”.