Grace Presbyterian Church has modernized a version of the secret Santa idea - with a twist; It's not during Christmas.

The Secret Saints program the church is directing will be designed to aid college students and young people in the military. Volunteers are assigned someone from the church who needs a helping hand.

Janet Hamilton, the director of the program, is very excited about the new outreach.

"Those are the members that will be away from the church for a while and we want to keep a connection with them and let them know that they're still loved."

Information sheets for the college students or military members to fill out are available at the church or by asking Hamilton. In addition to need-to-know information such as the young person's name and out-of-town address, the recipients are asked to list favorite goodies and the like.

The gifts volunteers send aren't all tangible.

"With the college students' information we can anonymously send letters of encouragement. It doesn't matter if [the volunteers] know [the student]. They can send money or what the kids like during their birthday, move-in day, exam day or graduation," Hamilton explained.

Grace Presbyterian Church, with approximately 250 members, will hold a meeting Sunday, Sept. 7, to randomly select the anonymous 'saint's college student or military member.

Secret Saints started when the church's temporary pastor, JoAnne Sizoo, brought up the idea after doing something similar at her prior church in Charlotte. Sizoo then put Hamilton in charge of organizing the program.

Although the idea may be new to this church, Hamilton said it will involve more people and create a connection between the recipient and the "saint."

"Everyone on both sides feels excited about Secret Saints," she said.

Hamilton said she hopes the program catches on and becomes an annual event.

"It does not take a lot of time and effort, yet you can just feel like you're helping someone," Hamilton said.

Anyone interested can visit Grace Presbyterian Church, located at 2615 Hwy. 160 West, or call 548- 0800 for more information.