What act of kindness are you planning this Christmas?
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Kristylovesbb | Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 08:35 pm     My husband and I find a needy family and make sure they have a wonderful Christmas. I collect money from my friends and family to buy presents for the kids, food for their holiday dinner, and I usually collect enough to pay the rent and utility bills for one month. My husband rides in the Harley Ride for Children. Each rider takes a toy for a child to the local orphanage. |
Goddessatlaw | Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 08:58 pm     I'm trying to get some kids out of a guardian's home and back into the arms of their family (not their parents), and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to. If I can do this, I will be able to have a merry Christmas with my family. If not, I am going to suffer right along with those kids. This situation just might be the one that drives me crazy once and for all. |
Kristylovesbb | Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 09:11 pm     I can truly understand your pain goddess. I cannot watch the news if a child is involved that has been hurt or neglected. I am the same with animals, can't watch it. I will not sleep a wink nor can I get it off my mind. My heart hurts so much for these kids that if I subjected myself to it the pain would consume me. |
Kady | Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 10:18 pm     Through my church we get a name of an angel child that is in the Methodist childrens home. We fix up a nice gift bag for whomever we choose. Last year my son picked a boy that wanted a game boy. That was all that this child had on his list he wanted. We got the game boy and also packed the bag with an accessory kit for the game boy, extra batteries, a new game and several of my son's used games that he no longer played with. My son was amazed at the children that has things like shoes and hair bows on their list. To me doing things like this is what Christmas is all about. |
Max | Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 11:11 pm     Let's see. Our local PT Cruiser Club gathered teddy bears and other stuffed toys to give to the fire department for use throughout the year when children are involved in thier calls. I donated probably 30 animals to that. The club is also sponsoring a needy family. Didn't have time to do a lot for that, so I added a Fred Meyer gift certificate to the pot. That way, they can get whatever they need (food, clothing, just about anything). Checked my finances for the year and made a couple of sizable donations. One to the local food bank and one to Compassion International which is one of my favorite charities (I sponsor a beautiful little girl in Brazil). My company will match the food bank donation (the Compassion one isn't eligible since it's a religious-based organization). We are doing a food drive at work this week and I'm taking in items each day for that. My church sponsors families at the holidays and I've got BIG boxes of food and toys for two families that I signed up to sponsor through that program. This Saturday and next Saturday, I'll be spending several hours wrapping presents at a posh downtown mall. It's a benefit for the local food bank. I love wrapping presents, so it's a great fit for me. Should be fun. A friend from the Cruiser club and I decided to get some things for The House of Ruth which is a Christian-based home that provides housing and assistance to unsupported pregnant women. My friend found this HUGE Christmas stocking (must be at least six feet long) and we are buying baby things to fill it with. Finally, I have a box of toys that I've been purchasing throughout the year. I'll be taking those to one of the local toy drives. I got in the habit of browsing the toy aisle fairly often when I go shopping. Of course, doing grocery shopping at places like Fred Meyer where they have EVERYTHING makes that very convenient. For me, this stuff is what Christmas is all about. I don't have kids or a large family, so I have a lot of fun helping out organizations that help others.  |
Kady | Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 04:55 am     Max, the world could sure use more people like you. |
Spygirl | Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 07:16 am     Kady said: <Through my church we get a name of an angel child that is in the Methodist childrens home.> Small world, huh? I work there  |
Pcakes2 | Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 08:45 am     I do this throughout the year, but increase the amount at Xmas...I drop off mini single use bars of soap to the homeless shelters and soap, lotions and other bath goodies at the shelter for woman & children. It may not sound like much, but many of these women have been through so much that they find such joy in taking a "pretty smelling" shower. |
Max | Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 08:57 am     Kady, Thanks. There are lots of us out here - heck just look at this thread. I have a friend who is retired from one of the major airlines and travels regularly to Guatemala as part of a relief organization's efforts there. They take lots of stuff down there that folks don't have ready access to because they are so poor. Lots of us save all our little soaps and shampoos from hotels and give them to her to take there. It really does make a difference, whether in a women's shelter as Pcakes mentioned or in a country where folks have less resources than we do. I have another friend who is spending this Christmas sponsoring dinners at a couple of shelters and will actually spend Christmas night at a prison facility hosting a dinner for the inmates. It's just one of the many things he does all year to help folks who have chosen negative paths find their way back to a more positive way of living. I have a quote on my office wall: "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
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Buttercup | Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 09:55 am     I plan on spending time in a nursing/retirement home visiting with those who are alone without family or friends. Even though many say that Christmas is a time for the children, I also believe that the oldest generation should be equally cared for and not forgotten since it is the one responsible for us being here in the first place Giving time is a gift that goes both ways. Because, to me, it is an honor and a privilege to be able to spend time with somebody who has experience and wisdom collected over a lifetime. Listening to their stories, and sometimes just sitting in silence holding somebody's hand can make such a big difference. Seeing and feeling how grateful somebody are for you taking the time to be there is beyond description--especially during the holidays  |
Zeno39 | Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 10:48 am     Last year I went to a local school to get the names of two children who were poor and probably would not get much for Christmas, if anything. They gave me the names of two brothers, and a list of what they like. I bought them a play station with a bunch of games to play on it, a game boy each and games for those, watches, football, basketball, clothes, shoes, candy, pencils and jus a lot of stuff. I had more fun doing that, and I did it anonymously. I love to give, and if I ever won the lottery, I would give the money to people who really needed it, plus a couple of charities. Of course, I would help my daughters and sister, too. |
Wargod | Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 11:23 am     Buttercup...most people don't realize that about the elderly. Dakota's school picks out a needy family every year for Christmas. We are given a list of things that the family needs (socks, shoes, underwear, jammies, coats...and the sizes required.) We also put money in an envelope and bring food to put under the Christmas tree. I really like this because the kids spend weeks learning about the meaning of Christmas and they are told that their gifts to the family are gifts to Jesus. We also take the kids to pick out a toy they want, we buy it, then drop them in the bin for Toys for Tots. I really want them to know that its not just picking out a gift..but picking out something they would want if they were in that situation. And, no, I don't go back and buy them the same toy they picked out. They might get it later in the year, but not for Christmas. Hubby's company also does a toy/food drive, and we contribute to that as well, though I'm not as fond of that one as the others. The kids don't get to participate. We pick up the toys and food, and hubby drops them off at work. And like Butter, we will also be spending time with my old folks. We'll be over there tomorrow to visit, and then a few more times before Christmas. And because several people in the shopping thread reminded me of things I know, we will be going over Friday night for the Christmas party. We'll take sugar free candy canes that the kids will pass them out (along with a couple hundred hugs!) |
Ginger1218 | Thursday, December 12, 2002 - 01:49 pm     Have have set up a Coat Drive in my office. I work in a very large law firm in New York. I have sent out an email and I am taking donations of coats to be distributed to the Needy by the Police Department. So they bring me their coats and I bring it to the police to be given out. I have already collected 18 coats. More are coming. It is awfully cold out there and people need warmth. |
Bakerygirl | Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 05:49 am     I am giving all the baby clothes my baby has out grown to the local Womens Crisis Center.. A girl I work with babysit's the kids there one night a week and she said a mother with an 8 week old baby was there.. The baby had nothing but the clothes it came with. I also sent some outfits my son probably won't get much chance to wear since he is growing so fast and also a few blankets and socks.. I feel so sorry for the abused women and their children. I'm glad most of them have somewhere to go where they can get help. Also I manage a bakery and deli at a grocery store and we give all the "day old" products to them as well, they say it helps them out alot. We are also donating turkeys, all the sides, dessert, and rolls to them for Christmas. Please everyone consider donating your babies, kids and even your old or unused clothes, I'm sure it is needed where you live also. |
Squaredsc | Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 09:23 am     i feel bad 'cause i really haven't done anything for others. in my old work area every xmas we used to pick a needy family and get food and clothes for them but they haven't done that this year or last year. working for the federal government we do have the combined federal campaign and during that period they have various fund raisers for this. like candy sales, snack sales, hot-dog sales, bake sales, raffles, etc. and i do give to those so i guess that's a little something. i also used to give money every pay to the national kidney foundation a couple of years ago. but nothing this year.  |
Kady | Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 12:23 pm     One of my Mom's employees house burned down on Friday the 13th. She lost everything. She is a single Mom with 3 kids. She only had $5K in insurance. She is extremely poor and uneducated. We have been directing her to places to get some assistance. My Mom gave her a decent Christmas bonus to get them some clothes. I cleaned out my closet and found her some good used stuff. We have a donation jar set on our counter at both stores to collect. I will add some cash to the jar and give it to her so she can buy Christmas presents for her kids. She is such a kind and good hearted person. We will continue to help her as much as we can now and after Christmas until she gets back on her feet. And this part makes me mad....the school sent her children home Monday because they didn't wear their uniforms. Ugh!!! Geesh people, they burned up!!! |
Alib | Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 06:42 pm     I have two special kindnesses planned - a woman who worked with me several years ago just had her house burn down and lost everything! Even though we lost touch over the years I am helping to collect money and household items for her family. Also, one of my best friends is unemployed and very worried about money (or lack of). My husband will be dropping off a "care package" on Friday with some groceries, a turkey, a couple of bottles of wine and $100. This will enable her to host her usual family Christmas dinner. |
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