How do "you" help this season?
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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 Karrine (Kay) McFarlane on -
Last year my son and I scheduled in some time to stand in the cold at a kettle collecting donations for the homeless :)
My son is quite the entertainer so he had lots of people stopping !
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Permalink Reply by marie on -
Hello, I just signed up for twitter moms.
I like to help a few charities from Haiti.
They are in bad need of help.
My preferred ones are:
http://www.forhaitiwithlove.org/
http://www.haitipartage.org/
Haiti was not blessed this year by Mother Nature as you know
they had 4 hurricanes.
Maria
http://www.haitipartage.org/
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Permalink Reply by Kipling on -
We do several things as well. We always give toys to a local Toy Drive. We also cook a meal for the homeless at a local shelter. My kids are really enjoying participating, it is an incredibly rewarding experience for them. There is a Mitten Tree at our local library that we always hang mittens & hats on. And we also donate food to our local bank.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Cain on -
Thanks to EVERYONE who has and will reply to this discussion. I feel blessed to have so many people willing to do so many diffferent things to help others! We are truly a giving society!
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca on -
We have a couple of Chiropractic business so we put up Xmastrees in then, buy a whole heap of groceries mainly non perishables and then let our wonderful patients do the rest. Last year in one practice we fed 80 local families, and the smaller practice fed 50. This year on track to feed 100 in one and the smaller practice has been selected as the only small business next to the big chain to accept food for the Rotary club in the local area.
We take photos and celebrate, it is wonderful to see peoples faces when they receive their bags, and they don't even know who did it.
This year we also decided not to send Xmas cards out but use the money to sponsor two world vision children. I thought that way we can add to someones life and our clients can watch over the years as these children grow and know that the together we can heal.
Cheers
Bec
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca on
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Rebecca said:We have a couple of Chiropractic business so we put up Xmas trees in then, buy a whole heap of groceries mainly non perishables and then let our wonderful patients do the rest. Last year in one practice we fed 80 local families, and the smaller practice fed 50. This year on track to feed 100 in one and the smaller practice has been selected as the only small business next to the big chain to accept food for the Rotary club in the local area so were expecting a wonderful response.
We take photos and celebrate, it is wonderful to see peoples faces when they receive their bags, of Christmas cheer and they don't even know who provided it as we give it to a church group.
This year we also decided not to send Xmas cards out but use the money to sponsor two world vision children. I thought that way we can add to someones life and our clients can watch over the years as these children grow and know that the together we can heal.
My Christmas motto, "Expect a miracle, you never know it just may come"
Cheers
Bec
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Permalink Reply by Jenni H on -
Here a few ways that our family gives during the year.
Donate stuffed animals to the local police department for children (accident victims, domestic abuse victims, etc.)
Donate clothes/toys/shoes/coats to local shelters
Donate blankets/comforters to humane society
Bake cookies for local fire station and drop off toy there for Toys for Tots (take my daughter with me)
AdoptAPlatoon.org - this is year round, families can adopt a soldier and send letters and care packs to US military men and women throughout the world. It's wonderful.
eMail our Military is also a great way to say thank you to our troops.
Kiva.com - loans that change lives - select an entrepreneur and give them a small business loan. You get paid back and you also hear back from them and how they are doing.
Greeting cards - I bought a birthday card from Barnes & Noble for my nephew that donated a blanket to a needy child - I think it was a Unicef card.
My Aunt & Uncle live in Canada and each year they give all the kids in the family a charitable gift at Christmas so they learn about giving.
1) World Vision Canada - One year they donated 2 Hens and a Rooster that helps families produce 150 eggs a year. Here is that link: https://gifts.worldvision.ca/Gifts/Forms/Category.aspx?name=51-100
It's no wonder two chickens and a rooster are one of our most popular gifts. They can produce up to 150 eggs a year, which provide nutritious protein, steady income and a growing flock. When chickens multiply, so does egg production. This means a struggling family can overcome poverty and provide for their children. Chickens are truly a winged blessing!
2) Sleeping children around the world. This past year they bought bed kits for kids who don't have them. (Can you believe not having a bed?) We received pictures from the children who received their beds this year. http://www.scaw.org/about/index.html
No portion of a bedkit donation is spent on administration — 100% reaches a needy child. Each *$35 donation (Canadian funds) provides a bedkit that consists of a mat or mattress, pillow, sheet, blanket, mosquito net (if applicable), clothes outfit, towel and school supplies. Bedkit contents vary from country to country depending upon local needs.
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Permalink Reply by Kathy on -
My kids' schools collect donations for needy kids...stocking stuffers, hats, mittens, etc. - things that will give them a little happiness and that they might not otherwise receive for Christmas. We've been doing this for over 5 years now. I let my kids pick out the items that we donate.
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Permalink Reply by Ilana Bittner on -
This time of year, we clear out the playroom and donate the toys to a local shelter.
Our family is very community oriented, and our kids their parents and grandparents serving on various board and they volunteer with us when possible. We've always looked for ways to get the kids involved in philanthropy. Several years ago, when I was serving as a trustee of our Community Foundation, my oldest, now 9, started saving a portion of his money in a separate piggy bank just for charity. Once or twice a year he would go to the foundation and choose an organization to donate the money to. He's really gotten a lot out of being part of the decision making process, and was recently featured in the Foundation's Newsletter so that his story would encourage others kids to find ways to contribute.
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Permalink Reply by Debi Silber "The Mojo Coach" on -
Every year, my family and I deliver food and gifts to families in need through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization. My kids (13, 12, 8, 6) each clean out their closets for "gently used" toys/games/clothes to give to the families as well. It's been incredible to deliver food and gifts to homes that otherwise wouldn't have any during the holidays.
Also, last year, I instituted a charity program within my company that runs throughout the year. Each month, 50% of my profits go to charity. Also each month, I choose a "mom-of-the-month" a mom who's made significant lifestyle changes (for her). Besides recognition in my newsletter, the chosed "m-o-m" has the additional reward of deciding to which charity my monthly profits go. It's been a thrill to see moms seeing the global impact of her lifestyle changes and use it as a teaching tool for her kids. Many of my clients also have friends who's started charities/foundations for loved ones who are ill. It's been great for them to use my charity program as a way to contribute monetarily to their friend's causes where they otherwise may not have been able to.
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Permalink Reply by Kate on -
Our family is sponsoring another family for Christmas--providing all of their gifts for their children and the parents. We contacted the nurse at our daughters school to see if there were any families in need. She had a list---a long list. We will be doing this every year from now on--or at least as long as we are able. There is nothing more fulfilling then helping others!
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