Help a family in need at Hoboken church’s 1st Annual Christmas Exchange

HOBOKEN – Families in need will get a helping hand from Hoboken Grace Community Church’s first ever Christmas Exchange.
“The amazing thing about this opportunity is that it’s not just a chance to provide toys this Christmas but much needed household items that can benefit a whole family,” said Anthony Reimer, the outreach director at Hoboken Grace. “Some parents have asked for simple things like pots and pans, bedding and toiletries, diapers and towels.”
Kara Cohen, a Hoboken resident and church attendee, inspired the event. Last year, she and her relatives, distributed gifts to families at the Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA). This year, the church has decided to up the ante by working with the HHA, HOPES, the HUMC Neighborhood Health Center, Hoboken Family Planning and In Good Counsel to find and help more families in need.
“It’s so nice to bring people that little bit of happiness. It filled me in a way I wasn’t expecting,” said Cohen. “This year the sky’s the limit. We’re expecting that close to 500 families will benefit through the Christmas Exchange and I’m hoping that the program will grow each year.”
Gifts will be collected on Dec. 19 where donors will have the chance to present them to an adopted family or child. Those unable to attend can arrange to have the gifts picked up by volunteer “elves.”
“It was amazing to see the impact Kara’s made in our city last year,” said Chris High, Lead Pastor at Hoboken Grace. “She pulled this event off with extremely limited resources. When we saw what she was able to accomplish, we knew we needed to join her in taking this to a whole new level this year. We knew it was something we needed to be a part of.”
The church is located at 301 Garden St. To learn how you can give back or to volunteer to help visit www.HobokenChristmas.com.