Bringing Christmas Joy Through Joni and Friends

Gifts of Mobility

This holiday season, Church HR Network redefined what it means to celebrate Christmas in the workplace. In addition to the usual festivities of catered meals, gift exchanges, and holiday games, we turned our early Christmas party into an opportunity to give back. Church HR Network did this by building and donating wheelchairs for individuals in need through our partnership with Joni and Friends, a ministry dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities.

The event – dubbed “Gifts of Mobility” – combined team building with service, resulting in the the assembly of eight life-changing wheelchairs. Church HR Network employees came together in the spirit of generosity and collaboration, experiencing firsthand the joy of giving back during the season of giving.

A New Kind of Christmas Celebration

The idea was born from Church HR Network’s leadership team who wanted this year’s Christmas party to reflect our partnerships with faith-based ministries. Recognizing the challenges faced by people with disabilities, we reached out to Joni and Friends whose mission includes providing mobility and sharing the love of Christ.

Church HR Network employees were divided into teams and competed in photo and trivia challenges to win wheelchair parts. As each team won parts, they were tasked with assembling a wheelchair.

The room buzzed with activity as teams worked together, carefully following instructions, checking measurements, and ensuring each chair was built with care and precision.

A Gift That Keeps Giving

Once the wheelchairs were completed, Church HR Network held a symbolic dedication ceremony. Each wheelchair was prayed over, and employees wrote heartfelt notes of encouragement that would accompany the chairs to their recipients.

The following week, the eight wheelchairs were delivered to Joni and Friends who then ensured they were distributed to individuals in communities where access to such mobility aids is limited.

Transformative Impact

What made this event especially meaningful was its dual impact. For the Church HR Network employees, it was a reminder of the deeper significance of Christmas. One participant reflected, “This was the most rewarding Christmas party I’ve ever attended. Knowing that our efforts will change someone’s life is incredibly humbling.”

For the recipients, these wheelchairs are more than just a mobility aid; they represent freedom, opportunity, and the love of Christ made tangible through the hands of strangers.

Inspiring Other Organizations

We want to continue to use our platform and resources for meaningful impact, by aligning our values with intentional actions. Church HR Network wants to continue to demonstrate that workplace events can go beyond fun and networking to truly change lives.

For ministries like Joni and Friends and their ministry partners, the Church HR Network team strives to provide critical support for their mission to reach people affected by disability with both practical aid and spiritual encouragement.

As Christmas approaches, we hope this will inspire others to embrace the joy of giving in ways that create ripples of hope far beyond their walls. Together, we can celebrate the season by bringing light and love to those who need it most.