Do you want to celebrate the best holiday of the year with your fellow YALers? Want to donate a toy to a needy child? Want the thrill of stealing the best White Elephant gift?! If so, we invite you to the annual YAL DC-Area Christmas Party & White Elephant Gift Exchange in St. Sophia's beautiful Frosene Center Ballroom! (Sponsored by St. Sophia's, St. Katherine's, and St. George's YALs).
EVENT INFO:
We welcome all YAL members from any local parish and friends to enjoy this
evening of fun, fellowship, faith, as we look toward the celebration of Christ’s
birth!
TOY DONATION (Giving Tree - Inova Hospitals):
In addition to the White Elephant Gift Exchange, we ask you bring an extra $5-10 gift-wrapped toy for a tot as we'll again be donating gifts to needy children this year. REFER TO "TOY DONATION INSTRUCTIONS" below for more details!
ATTENDEES ARE ENCOURAGED to bring desserts and/or drinks (alcoholic or
non-alcoholic) to help spread the Christmas cheer. Per YAL tradition, the Board
will provide meatless baked ziti and salad for dinner. Festive attire suggested.
WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT EXCHANGE:
And of course, the White Elephant! If you would like to participate, please
bring a wrapped gift, worth approximately $5-$10, for the game. We usually start
playing around 7, so be sure to arrive by then for your chance to snag the best
gift. Past highlights include: Christmas tree sunglasses, mom’s koulourakia, and
a decorative moustache!
HOW TO PLAY:
This is a traditional and fun exchange where you buy one of the following gifts:
either a funny, creative, Greek-themed, Christmas-themed, or a gift of no more
than $5-10 in value and gift wrap it. At around 7pm, we'll put all the gifts in
the center of the room and each person who brought a gift will pick a number out
of a hat. By the order of the numbers, each person will select a gift to open.
If they like it, they can keep it. The next person can either "take" another
person's gift (up to two times only) or can select another gift from the pile.
We promise, if you've not done this before, this is a ton of fun and absolutely
hilarious! Purchase some fun and creative gifts to make this truly interesting
:) (Participation is completely optional, but is more fun with more people!) If
you have any questions, ask on
FB event page or email
[email protected] .
TOY DONATION INSTRUCTIONS: Please wrap the gift AND specify if the gift is for an ADULT, CHILD, or could be for BOTH with a Post-It/Note taped on top of the gift.
GIFT IDEAS
- Warm Socks / Hat / Scarf
- Comfy Blanket
- Packaged Chocolate or Desserts
- Care Package: Shampoo/Conditioner, Magazines, Lip Balm
- Magazines / Crossword Puzzle Books / Sudoku
- Stuffed Animals / Pillows
- Journal / Devotional Book
- Sketch Pad, Notebook & Coloring Pencils
- Positive Quotes / Books
- Personal Water Bottle
- Things to hang in their room to make them smile
- Mug with Teas / Coffee / Snacks
- Pajamas/clothes to wear in the hospital
If possible, please feel free to include a nice note/card as it's sometimes the BEST part for them to know that someone is thinking of them.
