For many who buy presents for children during Saint Francis Ministries’ annual Christmas for Kids campaign, giving is truly more blessed than receiving. One such person is Elizabeth Massey at Grace Cathedral. She loves Christmas for Kids and the way it supports her faith journey. Here’s her story:
Nothing makes Elizabeth Massey happier than making other people happy, especially children. The Topeka paraeducator works at McClure Elementary, but she spends much of her free time at Grace Cathedral, where she serves as an acolyte and verger and volunteers with the sack lunch ministry.
One of her favorite ways to serve combines her love of children, the church, and Christmas.
Each year around Thanksgiving, Grace begins collecting gifts for Saint Francis Ministries’ Christmas for Kids (CFK) campaign. Elizabeth first learned about CFK when Saint Francis Executive Officer for Mission and Ministry Fr. Andrew O’Connor, spoke about the gift drive at the Cathedral.
She was immediately hooked.
“I just want so much to give these kids a really great Christmas,” Elizabeth says. “I love the warmth and kindness that comes from supporting programs like this.”
As a child and family ministry, Saint Francis makes sure the children in its care have what they need to thrive physically: clean clothes, a warm bed, and nutritious food. But around the holidays, that’s not enough. Many kids in care have never experienced a joyful Christmas, and some have never received a present. For those living away from home, whether in foster care or a residential facility, Christmas can be a lonely, anxious time. Christmas for Kids ensures that every child and youth in Saint Francis care receives a gift selected just for them.
But it’s people like Elizabeth Massey who make it work.
“I love to see the cards on the tree,” she says. “I immediately start planning to go out and buy stuff to give them the best Christmas. It’s great because I have the resources to give them things they can’t get for themselves.”
Elizabeth met Fr. O’Connor during his visit to the Cathedral. He carried a small Christmas tree covered in cards bearing kids’ names and Christmas wishes, and he invited her to pick the first card.
“It was a little girl who liked Stitch (Disney’s Lilo & Stitch) and Hello Kitty,” she says. “I got her a Hello Kitty fleece blanket, shirts, slippers, and Stitch shirts. My dad (Michael Massey)
and I were at the register, and I said, ‘Okay, Dad, you’ve got to make me stop.’ But I couldn’t stop. I saw a Stitch hairbrush and hair ties and had to get them, too. It may have been a bit too much, but I didn’t care. I said, ‘If this is the only Christmas these kids are going to have, then why not go overboard and make it the greatest Christmas for them?”
Elizabeth has helped give children “the greatest Christmas” for the last four years.
“One year, I picked a family that was expecting a baby at Christmas, so they needed lots of newborn things. That one was so fun. I bought diapers, onesies, and lots of other cute stuff. I also bought gifts for their other child.”
For Elizabeth, participating in Christmas for Kids is what her faith is all about.
“We are to help those who can’t help themselves, whether that means buying gifts or making sack lunches and blessing boxes,” she says.
Thanks to Elizabeth and all the parishioners at Grace Cathedral, children in the Topeka area are remembered during the holidays. Saint Francis’ partnership with faith communities like Grace makes Christmas for Kids possible. Their generosity springs from hearts full of love for those who deserve more.
“Christmas for Kids fits with my faith journey,” Elizabeth says. “It enables me to give back to my community and to help those who really need it.”
Join Our Mission by supporting Christmas for Kids. Learn how at www.saintfrancisministries.org/christmas-for-kids.
A Cycle of Blessing
In May, the Reverend Andrew O’Connor learned, almost by accident, that SFM would receive a portion of the proceeds from the 2026 Olde English Tea at St. James Episcopal Church in Wichita, an event held more or less annually since 1921. The organizers asked him to be one of the “honorary tea pourers,” a role that involves pouring tea, as SFM is one of the area non-profits supported this year. Unfortunately, he was already committed to two other events that first Saturday in May and couldn’t be present.
Happily, SFM’s Vice President of System Improvement, Becky Bennett, was available and eager to serve in this honorary role. She did an excellent job; on August 30, during St. James’ Sunday service, she and Director of Development Ginny Ellis were on hand to receive a substantial check from the church to further SFM’s philanthropic efforts and maximize its ability to provide healing and hope to children and families.
“The Church’s heart and soul are grounded in her love of God and that love of other,” said the Reverend Audrey Miskelley, interim rector of St. James. “For St. James, the evidence of that love is exhibited in such activities as the Olde English Tea. This is not the only event St. James actively uses to provide financial assistance to many wonderful, community organizations that give so much to those who need so much more. The work, planning, and generous donations of time, talent, and treasure that make the Tea a success are hard to quantify; it takes a lot. But this Tea has been a fixture in the life and ministry of St. James since 1921, and the proceeds and donations have helped numerous organizations that work in the fields of God to help the people of God.”
“When Saint Francis engages with churches and other community partners in good faith and common cause, blessings circulate through the community,” added Fr. Andrew. “Sure, it is good for SFM to receive those donations; every little bit helps. But it is also good for SFM to give St. James, SCHEELS, community foundations, individual donors, and so many others opportunities to get involved by sharing success stories and offering ways to participate in its mission. Most importantly, the reciprocity in SFM’s church and community partner work makes a material difference to the children, families, and adults it serves.”
According to Fr. O’Connor, this cycle of blessing in which SFM participates with its donors, partners, and friends shimmers with divine light. Saint Francis does not take for granted the hours and hours that go into making an event like the Olde English Tea successful. Indeed, they mirror the many hours SFM spends doing work that seeks to transform lives and systems. They are different sorts of work, to be sure, but both are valuable. Both require friends and partners willing and able to join Saint Francis Ministries in its mission to bring healing and hope to children and families.
You can Join Our Mission and support the cycle of blessings simply by visiting www.saintfrancisministries.org/join-our-mission.
SFM receives second H-E-B grant award
Saint Francis-Texas recently received a second $10,000 grant from the H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust (H-E-B TOC) to support the foster and kinship care licensing support program for families in Lubbock and the Panhandle.
“We are incredibly grateful to H-E-B for continuing to recognize the real barriers that foster and kinship families can face when opening their homes to a child,” said Foundation Development Officer Rachel Gallegos. “Becoming a licensed foster or kinship home comes with important safety requirements, but for families who are already making the selfless
decision to welcome a child into their home, the cost of those requirements can sometimes become an unexpected barrier.”
Gallegos added that H-E-B’s continued support allows Saint Francis to help families with those expenses, from fire extinguishers and medication lock boxes to CPR and First Aid certification and required home inspections.
“By removing these barriers, we can create more licensed homes and give children more opportunities to stay close to their families, schools, and communities,” she said. We are so thankful for H E B’s commitment to children and families and for the way they continue to stand behind the families who open their hearts and homes.”
H-E-B has a history of supporting Saint Francis Ministries since 2021.
“H-E-B is committed, now more than ever, to supporting local nonprofits on the front lines, working hard to help the South Plains thrive,” said Jessika Gonzales, Public Affairs Manager for H-E-B. “With this incredible gift from our Tournament of Champions Trust, we hope to empower more families to be able to utilize services like foster and kinship adoption programs. We’re honored to partner with Saint Francis Ministries to accomplish that work.”
