By Heather Melton, UTO Staff Officer

I know, it’s only October, but if you’re like me, I’m already starting to make Christmas lists and budgets for this year’s gifts and cards, which is especially important given the rising costs of everyday items. There is one thing that is not going up in cost; that’s the UTO Christmas cards. 

We’ve simplified the process this year in the hopes of making it more accessible to more folks. Once again, Kristen Wheeler of Modern Iconographer has created the artwork for our cards (shown above), and the inside has a lovely message of gratitude for the loved ones in your lives. One hundred percent of your cost for the Christmas cards goes to the 2023 Ingathering so you can feel good about giving these cards in place of a gift. (The cost of printing and mailing the cards is paid for by the Memorial Trust Fund.) 

In our family, we often hear that people already have enough things, so a UTO donation is a great alternative. Instead of a mug from the store, your loved one is helping fund projects, from a playground in California to a job training program in Palestine. If you’d like, we can even include the 2023 grant brochure with your cards so your loved ones can see the kinds of projects their gift will support. Just put a note in the memo on the donation form, and we’ll include as many grant brochures as you request.

Ready to order your Christmas cards? Visit www.unitedthankoffering.com/Christmas.

1. Decide which card option is best for you:
   – Order a pack of 10 cards for a minimum donation of $50.
   – Order a pack of 20 cards for a minimum donation of $75. 
2. Make your donation online at www.unitedthankoffering.com/Christmas. Please select “Christmas Gift” under “Designation.”
3. Christmas cards will start going in the mail on Nov. 15, but if you need yours earlier, just email me. 
4. All cards ordered by Dec. 13 will be sent by Dec. 15. All cards ordered after Dec. 13 will be sent after Christmas.

One last thing! If you are looking to help little ones in your life embrace gratitude and create a realistic Christmas list, we’ve got a free printable to help! Get your fill-in-the-blank letter for Santa at www.unitedthankoffering.com/Christmas. You’ll find a great list that asks your child to reflect first on the blessing of their past year before asking for items within specific categories. This is a great tradition to start at any age and helps kids think about what they really want and need. (It even asks them to ask for a gift that they will intentionally share with someone else, so it could be a game, craft, or something to give to someone in need.) We hope this new offering will bring a deeper sense of gratitude to a season often marked with giving. Feel free to share it!