Help Mike's Kids, Christmas Project for the Poorest of the Poor

Mike's Kids is an annual program that is supported by the North Texas Area Disciples of Christ Church and is part of the Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries (http://www.swgsm.org/) in the Rio Grande Valley. This program supports children who have been abandoned or families that have been forced out of their homeland to a new country. As Christmas approaches the North Texas Area Disciples of Christ Christian Churches begin filling banana boxes with new and gently used clothes and toys to be delivered to Reverend Feliberto Pereira in Los Fresnos, Texas to be distributed to "the poorest of the poor" in the area and to an orphanage just across the border in Mexico.

Many local churches, businesses, and individuals support this mission and Reverend Pereira, he himself a political refugee from Cuba, in aiding the needy all across the Rio Grande Valley region. Each year a truck with approximately 1,500 banana boxes full of clothes and toys, canned goods, bicycles, etc., are delivered.

These banana boxes bring smiles to many displaced children and families. Please consider making Mike's Kids, (http://www.mikeskids.org/) something you will share in this year to bring those in need a little Christmas Cheer.

Articles can be brought to Central Christian Church during business hours and on Sundays. Banana boxes are available to pick up if needed. Their uniform size makes shipping easier and more efficient. Sunday, December 9, 2007 is the last day to drop off donated items to the church.

Please note for new or gently used clothes and shoes: most of the refugees helped by SWGSM are small in stature with small feet. Therefore, we request that you do not send large-size clothing. Please send only clean/practical/usable clothing; save us the time and trouble of tossing away inappropriate clothing. We cannot use items that are stained, torn, or suitable only for evening wear.

Especially needed are new undergarments, gently used clothes or toys: Please make sure the toy is in working condition and has all the pieces. Also needed are bicycles, kitchen utensils, canned goods, and monetary donations.