Operation Santa Claus 2024
Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, filled with wonderful memories. I was born in Colombia, where we like to joke that Christmas begins on November 1st and doesn’t end until January 10th. The lights, the food, the laughter, the dancing, and the time spent with family and friends make it truly magical. But if there’s one thing my family taught me about Christmas, it’s this: the value of hospitality and generosity. Christmas is a time to remember and celebrate Jesus’ generosity toward us and to extend that same spirit to those around us, especially those in need. “Mi casa es tu casa” is not just a saying in Latino culture—it’s a profound value we practice daily.
Hospitality is a beautiful expression of generosity, and here at BJM, we love to practice it. Not just because we are a faith-based organization, but because we have learned it well from our neighbors in the Tenderloin. Over the years of doing life with them, you quickly realize they are some of the most generous people you will ever meet. This is why we work hard to show a small token of appreciation at the end of the year through “Operation Santa Claus.”
Through the generosity of donors, we put together gift bags for a whole family to enjoy. It has basic Christmas items, like cookies, a gingerbread house kit, games for the children, and fuzzy socks. But they also contain resources for anything else they might like or need.
It is always a joy to see the gratitude of families when they receive their bags full of gifts and resources each Christmas. This year, we decided to do something different: we gave each family two bags—one for themselves and one to gift to another family in need. As I chatted with one of the moms that day, she said, “Thank you so much for the gift; I already know a family I want to bless with this bag.”
The beauty of generosity is that it’s contagious. The love of Christ is not just for us but for all of us to share with our neighbors. As we prayed over each bag, we believed that through these acts of generosity, more families in the Tenderloin would experience the love of Christ.
I’d also like to invite you to reflect on this gift of hospitality and generosity. How have you experienced the love of Christ through the kindness of a friend or neighbor? I have, many times, and it has changed my life—one of the reasons I am on staff at BJM. We don’t always need words to preach the Gospel. Kindness, generosity, and hospitality are powerful ways to share God’s love. My Latino neighbors in the Tenderloin remind me of that every day.
Written by Mateo Alzate.
Photos taken by: BJM staff members.