How do "you" help this season?
What kind of things do you do to help this holiday season, and for some of you year round? I think if we open others eyes to new ideas, the gift of giving will only grow. Sometimes hearing something that you didn't think of before, can inspire. So how do you give......
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Cain on -
Me personally, I give donations to my local animal shelter (please see my blog spot) and volunteer when I can.
My mom was a big one on knitting hats, scarves and mittens for those in need.
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Permalink Reply by Pamela M. Kramer on -
OK Lisa,
What I do is take care of my civil servants! I make them baked goodies and put it in a holiday container. I give them to my mail person, my garbage men (especially!) and drop some off at my local library. These are folks that work in my city and I see them all year round. It's just a small thanks but thanks nonetheless.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy Dantzler on -
A few years ago, I decide to get back to the basics of the true meaning of the Holidays. To get over the commercialism of Christmas. I bake goodies and treats for family and friends to enjoy over the Holidays. Limiting the amount of money spent on Christmas Gifts on immediate family and write two checks. One check to a charity and one to the Church. After all the holidays are about Jesus and giving to less unfortunate. I feel that the biggest gift should go to the church for it is the birthday of Jesus and empowering the church can help the community more than accommodating the greed of the season. My family is shown everyday how much I love them and buying expensive gifts, owing money is a burden not a gift. My true meaning of the Holidays is giving thanks, helping less fortunate people and celebrating the birth of Jesus with friends and family.
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Permalink Reply by Working-mom-of-2 on -
I always clean out our closets and I donate the clothes (it's a lot since we are in the textile business :)) to the local social service that put them on for sale.
The sales people in the shop are socially weak people that get the chance to earn a few bucks with selling stuff to their fellow socially weak people who again are able to buy good stuff for very little money.
This way I know I support a lot of people.
In my direct surroundings I like to invite single moms and people who are having trouble financially to a nice pre-christmas coffee with homemade cake and cookies and things.
It is the thought that counts and they have a nice afternoon without worries.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Cain on
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Helpint and Volunteering is so important and I'm glad you've instilled it in your daughter at such an early age. Wonderful ideas, thanks for the words.
Mel said:We do several things. The company my husband works for has a giving tree with people that register with local social service organizations. We always pick about four stars and adopt those people, giving them things on their wish list. It's a fun shopping trip and my daughter (9) has helped me with this since she was about 4 years old. While we're out shopping for this, we pick up extra toys for Toys For Tots, as well as the toy drive for the children's hospital. We also use this season to clean out outgrown clothes and coats and take them over to the food bank's thrift store as well as donate food to them. I also send checks to a handful of charities near and dear to our hearts including the homeless shelter. My daughter has also helped out at community dinners via Girl Scouts. I always said when she was older I'd do some volunteer work and that is around the corner soon. I am hoping to find something we can do together, not just during holidays, but year round. Some places I like have age cutoffs that are too high, most are age 12 and up, but still looking around.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Cain on
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Thanks Tammy. Sometimes we forget that the whole meaning of Christmas is Jesus, and it's good to remind people. Thanks for all the good ideas tool
Tammy Dantzler said:A few years ago, I decide to get back to the basics of the true meaning of the Holidays. To get over the commercialism of Christmas. I bake goodies and treats for family and friends to enjoy over the Holidays. Limiting the amount of money spent on Christmas Gifts on immediate family and write two checks. One check to a charity and one to the Church. After all the holidays are about Jesus and giving to less unfortunate. I feel that the biggest gift should go to the church for it is the birthday of Jesus and empowering the church can help the community more than accommodating the greed of the season. My family is shown everyday how much I love them and buying expensive gifts, owing money is a burden not a gift. My true meaning of the Holidays is giving thanks, helping less fortunate people and celebrating the birth of Jesus with friends and family.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Cain on
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Small thanks is better then no thanks Pamela. Great idea!
Pamela Kramer said:OK Lisa,
What I do is take care of my civil servants! I make them baked goodies and put it in a holiday container. I give them to my mail person, my garbage men (especially!) and drop some off at my local library. These are folks that work in my city and I see them all year round. It's just a small thanks but thanks nonetheless.
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Permalink Reply by Duong on -
For many years our family participates in the Angel Tree project in which each of the kids buy a gift for a child that has a parent or parents serving in prison and cannot give them gifts. The gifts are sent or dropped off at the house to the child "FROM" their parents. It's been an amazing experience for my kids year after year. It showed them just how appreciative they are to have their parents, to be in a loving home, to be provided for and to appreciate what they have, and seeing others situations gives them such compassion for others.
We give regularly to other needs at our church that come up: Thanksgiving Food Drive, Christmas Giving Drive etc. My motto" Live to Love and Live to Give". You are more blessed to give then to receive!
Hugs~
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Cain on
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My mother takes one and I take two "stars" off the Angel Tree and give presents to children in the Head Start program who will not have gifts otherwise. You don't know much about the child except the First name, age, size, and wants. It is truly rewarding and for me fun to shop for the little ones again!
Thanks again gals for all your wonderful ideas and suggestions. Makes me think I need to do more!
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Permalink Reply by Rhea Brown on -
This year I would like to donate gifts to The House of Ruth (for battered women and their families) by getting all of my friends and family members to donate clothes, new toys, and hopefully I will be a guest speaker (still waiting on approval) as well.
Some of the best experiences are when we reach out, now only for the holidays but all year round and this will be my contribution to end this year.
I also love the Children's Hospital here in Washington DC and Ive heard about the Teddy Bear club where you donate children gifts/toys etc. to the hospital but not too sure about this yet.
I am especially partial to premature infants since all of my 3 children visited the NICU when they were born and I really would like to donate and/or volunteer this year at the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital but still haven't sealed the deal on that idea either.
When I volunteer, I always include my children and after they meet a mom and/or child, I have them added to my children's "Prayer Wall" and we write letters to them and simply keep up with their activities. That way they don't feel like we visited and/or donated out of charity but rather friendship and love.
Well, I hope that you are all inspired as I have been inspired in reading your wonderful comments.
Cheers, and "remember 2 make time 4 U, and have a cocktail on me"
Smooches!
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Permalink Reply by Megan Calhoun on -
I donate the majority of my kids old toys to charity. It's feels great to know you are helping bring a smile to a child's face somewhere, teaching my kids about giving back to the community and also it cleans out all the toy clutter!
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Permalink Reply by Ruthie Appleby on -
For me... it is very simple...I do good wherever I can...Jesus went around doing good....so if I see a rich person that needs a piece of jewelry because everyone just takes from them...I give to her...I may take from a poor person...or give...sometimes they want to give too...I really love to reach out to the elderly listen to their stories which I love to hear and just be nice to people...I think in the past i made life to complicated...all i have to do is be like Jesus when you see something...do good.
Ruthie :)
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