Jingle All The Way!
The 12 Days of Christmas Service is the opportunity for United in Service Coalition and volunteers to provide 12 days of service throughout the city of Houston in the month of December. Each of the 12 Days of Christmas was infused with holiday cheer and showcased a variety of events like Christmas Trivia with Santa, Community Service Project(s), and a Christmas Toy Giveaway.
We kicked off this series of events with a “Game Day Opener” social and flag holder experience at a Texans VS. Browns football game. This flag-holding collaboration with Mission Continues was one for the books.
The ”Game Day Opener” for the 12 Days of Christmas Service commenced at the NRG stadium as the Houston Texans hosted the Cleveland Browns. The combined forces of volunteers from United in Service Coalition and Mission Continues were able to share a longstanding tradition and honor with flag holders in the unfurling of a giant American flag during opening ceremonies and national anthem.
We continued to ignite the holiday cheer of our 12 Days of Christmas Service at local schools with Trivia With Santa.
Students saw some real magic as Santa came to visit 3 lucky schools for some holiday fun straight from the North Pole. Taking time out of making toys and other gifts, Santa and his elves surprised the young students at Kashmere Gardens, Felix Cook and Ernest McGowen Elementary Schools with music, treats, fun, and capping things off with the ultimate trivia battle between Santa and his elves, and the students! A special thank you to Santa’s special helpers at Northeast Houston Redevelopment Council, Travis Manion Foundation, and LISC Houston for their help, partnership, and commitment to making this character-building event a success. All of these experiences saw Santa, his elves, and the students challenge their wit and creativity in a festive celebration filled with music, cheer, and pure enjoyment.
Thank you for showing us why, Character Does Matter. Next, we decked the virtual halls with virtual candle making and ornament decorating events.
UISC and Black Phlox Candle Co. got lit for Cocoa and Candles!
United in Service Coalition and The Black Phlox Candle Company collaborated to create a warm and festive virtual evening for our virtual members both near and afar. This cozy event, imbued with candles, cocoa, and plenty of holiday spirit, providing a truly unique candle-making experience that was carried out from the comfort of participants' homes. This partnership allowed us to touch hearts, make smiles, and foster a sense of joy throughout the evening.
Thereafter, UISC played host for our virtual family Christmas ornament decorating event that added delightful joy and crafts to our gatherings during the holiday season. Attendees enjoyed a wonderful time decorating their own Christmas ornament with T that was provided early on, creating a web of connection that spanned both our nearby and distant community members. This online fun-filled experience and celebration of creativity served as an excellent way to unite families and communities during this special time of year turning this virtual holiday fun into a cherished memory.
Talk about making an impact! Over the remainder of the 12 Days of Christmas Service, UISC and our amazing collaborating partners, had the opportunity to provide a Homeowners workshop, a mobile pantry, and a food drive for seniors, and topped it off with a turkey and toy giveaway. Don't believe us? Keep reading and you'll see!
The phrase "home for the holidays" acquired a unique significance as United in Service Coalition hosted a special workshop for Houston residents aspiring to own their own hearth to hang their festive stockings. As a hallmark feature of the 12 Days of Christmas Service, the workshop offered a treasure trove of information about the local real estate market, presented by industry experts including real estate agents, insurance brokers, home inspectors, and loan officers. Garnished with delightful refreshments, this event wrapped up like a true holiday gift, igniting a spark of inspiration among the community's future homeowners. However, we didn't stop there.
On the twelfth day of Christmas…Service, UISC, and Northeast Houston Redevelopment Council gave me – gifts of food to seniors around the city! While he may have been out of partridges and pear trees for now, Santa sent his elves to join forces with UISC volunteers, bringing a wave of holiday cheer and sustenance to Houston's senior residents. Together, they individually packed, wrapped, and loaded food boxes onto their special Texas-style sleigh, delivering these warm gestures of care directly to Houston’s senior residents’ doorsteps or cars.
We extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to this heartening community event, demonstrating the true spirit of the holidays - unity, cheer, and the joy of giving back. Talk about a commitment to service, and it is because of that continued spirit of service that we at UISC are able to continue to do what we do best, serve.
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