Kevin Fernando, from El Salvador, helps decorate the family Christmas tree.
IMPACT SEPTEMBER 2015
TRADITIONS
THE JOURNEY OF A CHRISTMAS CARD This fall, in cities and towns all over
or design templates, while others set
local communities. There the sponsored
the U.S., Unbound sponsors will receive
wider parameters that allow for more
children, youth and elders gather to put
Christmas cards from their sponsored
individual creativity.
their own personal touches on the cards.
friends. A small expression of cheer,
Last year in the Philippines, 11 works
These gatherings are usually lively and
gratitude and creativity, these cards have
of art from sponsored children were
fun-filled events where local Unbound
become a cherished Unbound tradition.
selected to represent Unbound’s Quezon
staff provide materials — paper, markers,
But what sponsors may not realize is that
program. According to Rogelio De Vera,
scissors, glue and whatever else might
when the cards arrive in their homes they
head of the correspondence department
be needed — and then let the children’s
are at the end of a very long journey.
for Quezon, “Their work focuses on the
talents shine forth.
In most of the 20 countries where
customs and traditions in the Philippines.
Patrick Marinas, of the Manila program
Unbound works, the process of creating
These illustrations were presented in one
in the Philippines, says the cards are a
Christmas cards begins in the summer.
postcard design Christmas card with the
labor of love for the children.
Following a few practical guidelines set
program’s greetings.This is how the Quezon
by the Kansas City office, staffers in the
Christmas card was conceptualized.”
“Definitely, the children will have a sense
of
pride
and
accomplishment
various Unbound offices around the world
Once the overall plans are made for each
after they finish their Christmas greeting
form their plans. Some will create themes
program, they are shared with various
cards for their sponsors,” he said. “It is a (continued)
LIVING UNBOUND SUNDAY
A PAT ON THE BACK
Introduce Unbound to your faith community by hosting a Living Unbound Sunday. It’s easy to share Unbound with others. We’ll give you everything you need to host an information table, and be here to support you along the way. To host a Living Unbound Sunday in your faith community, email us at Outreach@unbound.org or call 800-875-6564.
Unbound is pleased to announce we have been honored with a prestigious 2015 Top-Rated Award by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations. We also received an A+ from CharityWatch, and met all 20 rigorous standards established by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. Thank you for helping make us a top-rated nonprofit.
Handmade Christmas cards from children in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
(continued from front) way of showing their craftsmanship and
from Unbound headquarters and placed in
— however long it takes — until the last
creativity, and they do it with love.”
a pre-labeled envelope. While Unbound’s
card has gone out. As they work, they visit
The finished cards are collected in
dedicated corps of volunteers works hard to
with coworkers, smile over the artwork
the local communities and sent to the
get the cards out in a timely way, the sheer
of the children, and imagine what it will
respective
volume is more than they can handle.
be like when Joe in Spokane or Martha in
program
headquarters,
in
Richmond open their cards.
turn to be sent to Unbound’s Kansas City
This is where the Kansas City staff
office. They begin to dribble in to Kansas
comes in. No matter what department
By the time a sponsor receives an
City in the fall, and by early December
each person works in, or what their
Unbound Christmas card, many hands
every available inch of space in the
normal daily duties might be, at this time
have touched it. Some are small, active
mailroom has been filled with more than
of year all are pressed into service like
hands filled with crayons and glue sticks.
300,000 Christmas cards — one from
Santa’s elves. And they wouldn’t have it
Some are large hands, calloused from
each sponsored person — reflecting the
any other way!
lifting palettes filled with letters onto
With Christmas music in the background
trucks. And some are gentle, wrinkled
Once in Kansas City, processing the cards
and hot mugs of cocoa at the ready,
hands that have known many blessings
takes time since each must be double-
Kansas City staffers gather in large and
and seek now to pass them on.
checked to make sure it is going to the right
small groups at various spaces around the
sponsor, combined with a holiday greeting
building for an hour here, an hour there
diversity of the Unbound world.
Stacks of Christmas cards from sponsored children arrive at Unbound.
1 ELMWOOD AVENUE, KANSAS CITY, KS 66103
800.875.6564
Each hand adds its own loving touch, and the final one is that of the sponsor.
Kansas City staff ready the cards to send to sponsors.
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©UNBOUND 2015