As Christmas season is around the corner, it is time to spread smiles and joy around. “Unleashing the Joy” becomes all the more important during these times of the pandemic where all of us have gone through ups and downs.

Caritas India, being a humanitarian organization working at the grass root level with its partners throughout the country, can reach out to a large number of people in this process of spreading joy during this Christmas season.

Therefore, Christmas Campaign has been launched – Christmas Express: Unleashing the Joy (Khushiyon ki Lehar). This campaign would be run by Caritas India staff in the whole month of December 2020. This Christmas Express is envisioned to have bogies filled with goodies, joy, love and hope, whistling its way through the path less travelled.

The objectives of this campaign are four-fold:

1. Increasing the visibility of the work of Caritas India
2. Encouraging the attitude and approach of Sharing Community
3. Spreading your love and joy with the less privileged this Christmas
4. Broadening the network and volunteer base of Caritas India

Other than the above-mentioned objectives, the goal of this campaign is to mobilize Rs 20 Lakh (even more than that) in one month and share these resources with the ones in need. This goal would be actualized through four major activities during this campaign:

1. Warm a Night, Save a Life (Blanket Drive):

As Christmas season falls during the winter season in northern parts of our country, this campaign would help share the warmth of the season in the literal sense of the term. One can share a blanket and save a life on the streets. There are various vulnerable individuals/families living on the streets during the cold winter nights without any source of support to face harsh situations. One could participate in this Campaign during this Christmas season by sharing their contribution with Caritas India who can run the blanket drive in the identified cities.

1. Share a Meal

The idea behind this activity is to donate by saving Rs.10 a day (Rs 300 a month). People can contribute their share through the donation link and Caritas India staff and volunteers would ensure that the meals reach the people in need. Each donor could contribute and ensure that at least one person would be fed and will not sleep hungry.

• Photo SHOT

It is a Christmas Photography Contest wherein children, youth, elderly – all are welcome to participate and share pictures on the topic “What Christmas means to me”. The winners will be given Cash Prize. The Registration fee to this contest is Rs 50. The last date of registration is Dec 31.

Once registered, the participant will have to upload the photograph on Facebook and tag “Caritas India” by Dec 31.

1. Meal of Joy – ANAND BHOJ

This activity would be run exclusively by Caritas India Head Office staff for the vulnerable people living around the Head Office area in Delhi. There are many poor children, elderly and persons with disability living on the streets around the Head Office. The Head Office Staff would organize a community kitchen during the month of December to distribute meals to the poor and needy.

To donate for blanket drive or share a meal/registration for the photography contest, an individual could scan the QR code on the campaign poster. It would direct them to Caritas India donation page.

Alternatively, one could go to Caritas India website or click on the link –  https://www.caritasindia.org/campaign-donation/?cmpid=11228 to donate money or send in a cheque in favor of “Caritas India” to Caritas India Delhi office. Cash Payment and International donation are not acceptable. PAN No. needs to be provided by the donor if the donation amount exceeds Rs 5000 from one single account (donor) or if the donor wishes for an (80G) tax exemption.

This Christmas Season, let us spread our love, joy and warmth around. This Christmas Season let us bring out the true meaning of the festival.