• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Building Faith

Building Faith

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Who We Are
    • Our Writers
    • Author Guidelines
    • FAQs
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
    • Support Building Faith
  • ARTICLES
    • Articles by Topic
    • Most Recent Articles
  • CURRICULUM CENTER
  • EN ESPAÑOL
  • INTERGENERATIONAL WORSHIP
    • Intergenerational Worship & Ministry Resources
    • Hallmarks of Intergenerational Worship Toolkit
  • RESOURCES
    • Vacation Bible School
    • Webinars
    • Episcopal Teacher Archives
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Home/Featured/Houses for Change: Lenten Boxes to Help the Homeless

Houses for Change: Lenten Boxes to Help the Homeless

“As you do it to the least of these who are my brothers and sisters you have done it unto me.”
Matthew 25:35 

 

 

 

A New Take on Mite Boxes
Mite boxes are one of the many wonderful traditions of Lent. They engage children in the values of compassion and charity through the daily act of praying and giving; and the funds collected help the most vulnerable in our communities. Houses for Change collection boxes are a new spin on mite boxes, providing an activity and a way to raise money for a worthy cause.

Using arts supplies and their imagination, children decorate pre-ordered Houses for Change boxes to create their own unique “house.” During Lent, they fill their boxes with loose change and at Easter donate the money saved to any “house” project, such as a homeless shelter, a food bank or a related mission. Houses for Change can be done by your family or by your church. Whoever organizes the project decides which organization or mission will receive the Lenten donation.

Houses for Change: Click to Learn More

 

Helping the Homeless
Houses for Change
 is a national campaign for kids with homes to help kids without. Since it was launched at the end of 2010, more than 17,000 kids in over 150 cities have participated in this project. Houses for Change has been used at community service days and birthday parties. It has been adopted by families, schools, congregations, homeless organizations, and YMCAs to engage their youth in a meaningful service project.

Houses for Change is sponsored by Family Promise, a non-profit organization that mobilizes communities to help homeless and low-income families. Check out the details about how to organize the project, great photos of proud kids and parents with their creations, educational materials to download, and an online store to order the inexpensive undecorated boxes.

 

 


Did you enjoy this article? Consider subscribing to Building Faith and get every new post by email. It’s free and always will be. Subscribe to Building Faith.

 

About the Author

  • BuildFaith Editors

    View all posts
Print PDF

February 19, 2012 By BuildFaith Editors

Filed Under: Featured, Service & Outreach Tagged With: children's ministry, family ministry, intergenerational, Lent, Service

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Subscribe to Building Faith

You’ll get new articles, plus free weekly updates in your inbox.

We respect your privacy. View our privacy policy here.

Search Our Site

New Articles

Black sign with letters lit up that say "ASK," attached to a red brick building

The Smallest Experiment: One Wondering Question

Most formation closes hard: sermons land their point, lessons end with the lesson, newsletters call …

Continue Reading about The Smallest Experiment: One Wondering Question

Aerial view of the white and black shoes of a person standing on black pavement before painted arcs in rainbow colors of yellow, green, blue, and purple

Equipping Faith Communities to Offer Authentic Welcome to LGBTQIA+ Persons

Faith communities that belong to LGBTQ+ affirming denominations are often excited to extend a …

Continue Reading about Equipping Faith Communities to Offer Authentic Welcome to LGBTQIA+ Persons

Parent Night Out: A Ministry of Rest and Belonging

At St. Ann's Episcopal Church, one of the most impactful formation ministries in our parish does not …

Continue Reading about Parent Night Out: A Ministry of Rest and Belonging

Footer

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook

Building Faith

Lifelong Learning
Virginia Theological Seminary
3737 Seminary Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22304

Copyright © 2026 · Building Faith · A Ministry of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

Design by Blue+Pine Creative, Inc.

Subscribe to Building Faith

Get articles and resources by email

Privacy Policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.
If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.