Ministry Profile:

Dutilh Church’s Christmas Outreach Ministries Bring the Light of Christ to People in Need

Cindy Smeltzer and her son Jonah hang mittens on the hat & mitten tree. Photo courtesy of Sherry Digruttolo.

““As you can imagine, being in shelter at Christmas time is very difficult for our families. Our survivors do not expect gifts; they are thankful to be safe. Our children in shelter think that Santa won’t find them because they are not in their home. I have been blessed with the privilege of seeing their faces light up on Christmas morning when they see many gifts with their name on them....I thank you from the bottom of my heart.””

— From a 2014 letter to the Dutilh Church community from Heidi, Executive Director, Victim Outreach Intervention Center

—December 2019
Both Sherry Digruttolo and Brittaney Lucas cite Matthew 25:40, “…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brother and sisters of mine, you did for me” as the key to Dutilh Church’s involvement in the hat and mitten tree and VOICe gift tree that grace the church’s greeting area annually in late November and early December.

Digruttolo, her husband Chuck Digruttolo, and Maria Wesley have headed up both projects since 2009. Lucas stepped in this year to coordinate the VOICe gift tree, while the original team of three will continue to oversee the hat and mitten tree.

“Dutilh has a long history with the gift trees,” Digruttolo explained, which predates her own involvement. “Maria and I first got involved through the invitation of the pastors. Debbie Pisor asked us to take on this ministry.”

The hat and mitten tree benefits individuals and families on Pittsburgh’s north side who are homeless or struggling financially. Dutilh partners with the United Methodist Church Union, an umbrella organization that encompasses a variety of social service agencies to deliver the outerwear. Hats, mittens, and scarves donated through Dutilh’s ministry project are funneled to children and families of Manchester School, where Dutilh already has a relationship through its tutoring program, Digruttolo said.

The gift tree provides Christmas presents to support people seeking refuge through the Victim Outreach Intervention Center (VOICe) shelter and for families in need, identified through the Mars Area School District. Last year, the Dutilh Church family donated gifts for 145 individuals. This year, Lucas said, the church will support 155 people—130 recipients from VOICe and another 25 gift tags for children from Mars.

Lucas, who has participated in this ministry in the past through the purchase of gifts, said the experience was eye-opening.

“Seeing such simple requests from families who have had to escape for their lives, and all the little girl wants is a Barbie or the mom just asks for a pair of slippers, is heartbreaking,” Lucas said. At the same time, both Lucas and Digruttolo describe feeling initially put off by some of the more expensive items periodically included on a gift tag. Both have encountered gift requests that seem lavish, such as designer clothing or expensive electronics.

Digruttolo said that there is a moment of realization for many people that victims of abuse and violence come from all socioeconomic levels. She explained, “We have to be cautious of judging people by what they ask for. Regardless of how much money they may have had, their circumstances were abusive.”

“The word ‘Victims’ in ‘VOICe’ is such a big part of understanding these requests,” Lucas said. “Before I understood who the recipients were, I was surprised by some of the wish lists. People often flee a life-threating situation with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. That context provides a different perspective.”

“This ministry is not just about providing material things. It’s about people being remembered and acknowledged,” Lucas said.

Digruttolo explained, “We give without judgement because we don’t walk in their shoes.”

Among the most gratifying parts for Digruttolo is the concrete nature of the giving. “It’s service you can see,” she said. “There is a definite need, and you can see that your gifts make a difference.”

“Every time we have delivered those gifts, people are so grateful,” Digruttolo continued. “Some of the people in our congregation have made real sacrifices to be able to help someone with a gift.” Digruttolo said the Dutilh family is incredibly generous each year and that the program has grown during her ten-year tenure; last year, the gifts were estimated at about $10,000, a significant amount for a congregation of Dutilh’s size.

“Supporting the gift tree ministry is a nice learning experience for kids, and it’s wonderful to see families participating together to provide gifts for someone in need,” Digruttolo said.

The ministry is directly relevant to Dutilh Church’s mission to love God, love others, and love to serve, Lucas said. “The gift trees embody what we want to do with our mission. We want to be the cheerful giver, love others, and spread that love. When you are able to share a gift with someone who otherwise wouldn’t have it, you feel blessed to be a blessing.”

Pastor Tom Parkinson said, “When we offer these tangible gifts to persons in need, we’re not really offering material items. We are offering them Christ. Our prayer is that the light and love of Christ would be on display in these gifts, which is what Christmas is all about.”

UPDATE:

The 2022 hat and mitten tree and VOICe and Mars School District gift tree will be up from November 20 through December 11. For more details, please check the Christmas outreach page.