The Miami Dolphins are getting into the holiday spirit a little early this year, donating a large amount of team-themed swag to be used as Christmas presents in 2024. The items – including shirts, towels, journals, stickers, bracelets and hats – will be sent to Guatemala, Malawi, and other developing countries as part of Cross Catholic Outreach’s holiday gift drive.
Cross Catholic Outreach is a Florida-based nonprofit that offers relief to those living in impoverished communities, currently active in 30 countries around the world. Describing itself as a Catholic ministry, Cross Catholic Outreach explains on its website that it “partners with bishops, priests, religious and lay workers to provide food, water, housing, education, orphan support, medical care, microenterprise and disaster relief.”
For the last decade, Cross Catholic Outreach has run the “Box of Joy” ministry, which sends Christmas presents to underserved children who, in some cases, have never been given a Christmas present before. Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, commented in a press release:
“We are immensely grateful to the Miami Dolphins for their generous contribution to our Box of Joy program. It will provide Christmas joy to hundreds of children living in extreme poverty. The Miami Dolphins team is well known around the world, and I’m sure the boys and girls who get these gifts will be thrilled to have them. They face very challenging circumstances, and these things will brighten their lives.”
Launched in 2014, the Box of Joy ministry has drawn support from US Catholic parishes, schools, groups, families, and individuals to bring the joy of the Christmas season to those around the world. Cross Catholic Outreach estimates that it has delivered 646,163 Box of Joy gifts over the last 10 years. Last Christmas, Box of Joy provided gifts for children in six poverty-stricken countries: Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, El Salvador, Honduras and Malawi.
The way it works is that individuals or groups of volunteers pack shoe-box sized boxes full of all sorts of gifts: including toys, school supplies, apparel, accessories, candy, and coloring books. Before being mailed off, Cross Catholic Outreach adds a rosary and The Story of Jesus booklet to each box to remind children why Christmas is so special. Participants also cover the postage, a fee of $9.
Those who are interested in participating but do not have the time to assemble a gift box can still get involved by sponsoring a Box of Joy. A simple donation covers the cost of the gift and postage, while volunteers from Cross Catholic Outreach will put together the box for you.
If you wish to sponsor a Box of Joy, or assemble your own, all the information needed to take part in this selfless ministry can be found at Cross Catholic Outreach’s official website. Not only will the Box of Joy bring a smile to a child in need this December, but it’s a great way to keep the spirit of the season all year long. Merry Christmas!
