Each year, Operation Christmas Child volunteers pack shoe-box-sized boxes stuffed with toys, books, treats, and more for children in need around the world. Recently, some of the people we support got to join in the fun through Christ for People, a ministry for people with intellectual disabilities. Emily Robillard, Lead DSP at our Gardner home, helps lead the ministry with support from her church.

“Operation Christmas Child is our community service project and one of my favorite events,” Emily says. “Our group packed 47 boxes!” Each volunteer walked along tables filled with a wide assortment of items they could select for each box they packed. “They were so proud of themselves for giving to kids in need,” Emily says. “They even wrote little notes in the boxes, or drew pictures if they couldn’t spell.”

The Christ for People ministry was founded by Pastor Don Anderson, a former DSP at Hammer Residences in the 1970s. Pastor Don led the ministry for 45 years, retiring earlier this year. His weekly church services, held at Westgate Church in Plymouth (formerly Wayzata Evangelical Free Church) and Anoka Covenant Church in Anoka have brought spiritual nourishment to people with intellectual disabilities in a way that is specially designed for them. They can fully participate and express themselves without being judged while being in community with others and feeling connected to something larger than themselves. Dozens of people from more than 15 of our homes are connected to the Christ for People ministry along with individuals served by other agencies.