What are you GIVING? Here is something I wanted to share with you =)

[ServinGsus]

I wanted to come with something that EVERYONE ON CAFEMOM could do .... we all need to give outside of ourselves, all the time but most especially at Christmas and most especially this year when there are so many of us in need. So here's my Christmas Challenge: find a local shelter that has kids at it .... and do one of the following (EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US can do at least one of these things!) .... respond to this journal with what your plan is, then come back and tell us about it. See if we can get it POPULAR and make it happen in every city represented by CM!!! WE ARE MOMS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

1. Call the shelter and set up a time for you and your family to bring dinner for all of those staying there
2. Make holiday desserts and/or cookies with your kids and bring them. If you have the time, stay and visit while they enjoy them. Maybe bring a small stereo with Christmas music to play
3. Go through all of the clothes in your closets, wash them, and fold them nicely. Then bring them in ready to wear. Especially outfits that would be good for job interviews
4. See if anyone needs a ride to job interview and provide it, along with emotional support
5. Have a craft day at home with your kids and make up a few dozen holiday cards. Find a couple different Bible verses or poems that are uplifiting to write inside. Add a candy cane and maybe even a pack of hot cocoa. Bring them by the shelter so that the families have something on Christmas as a gift!
6. Call and ask if there are specific items they need and watch on freecycle, craigslist, and among your friends to see if you can grant these "wishes"
7. Help your kids sort through their toys. Wash up those they are willing to part with. Donate the ones in good condition so the moms can give their kids somethign for the holidays.
8. If you are really adventurous ask a shoe store for some empty boxes. Wrap the tops and bottoms separately. Then begin to fill them: crayons, coloring book, note pad, pen, yo-yo or other $store goodies .... make up several to give as gifts to kids who need them. See if you can get your local church, Moms group, or friends to each do 1 or more, and gather them all up and bring them to the shelter.
    

    Merry Christmas To All .... & To All Happy Giving!

[MyBelovedOnes]

Dec. 9, 2008 at 1:06 PM

Here is a good site to add to your list.  I gave to a mom in need of blankets a few months ago.  www.wishuponahero.com.  You can search for peeps in your state if you wanted to work with people locally.  That is what I did.  I check on the wanted section most everyday too just in case.  For the first time, John and I gave to Toys for Tots and the local toys for kids and Adopt a tree this year.  It felt great to give...especially when God has given so much to us.

[HeidiLJ]

Dec. 9, 2008 at 7:45 PM

Two things: we participated in a shoebox ministry for underpriveledged children.  Off-hand, I don't remember the name of the organization.  Essentially, you fill a shoebox with gifts for a child of a certain age (we did a boy and a girl) and then give $7 for postage for each one.  It then goes to a country such as Africa, S. America and etc.  Many of these children have never received a Christmas gift.

Second: we are donating two toys to the grandparent's room at the Good Neighbor Center run by our church.  Grandparents send requests to our church for what they'd like to buy for their grandchildren.  Then, each person picks a tag or two off the tree and brings it back with an unwrapped gift for the grandparents to be able to give to their grandchildren.

OH, and third thing.  The kids and I go through their toys each year around this year and send off a box to our local Goodwill of gently used items they can do without.

[HeidiLJ]

Dec. 9, 2008 at 7:46 PM

P.S. Everyone should vote this popular.  What a great journal! 

[LYNDELOU]

Dec. 9, 2008 at 9:43 PM

Great Post!!

Will vote popular for you...

[sunmoonstars]

Dec. 10, 2008 at 3:46 AM

This year and last I helped with the donation drive at work.  We collect food and toys to give to 6 area missions.  Personally I gave about $50 worth of stuff - I save things all year for this.  I also gave a huge giftbag full of free samples I collect all year.  The mission loves these because they can hand them out, especially tampons and pads, shampoos, etc.  I also gave 3 batches of baked good for the bake sale - this raised over $500 for us to buy more food and toys, in addition to what is donated by employees.  And I gave my time, I sold bake sale goodies for an hour, and also shopped for toys with money work gave me from the bake sale proceeds.

Anyone who is working can try to organize something similar at their employer site.  Let me know if you need help or ideas.

[sunmoonstars]

Dec. 10, 2008 at 3:47 AM

Oh, and I should add a little brag about my 4yo.  She won a basket (winnie the pooh) at the church raffle the other day and picked 2 things from in it to give to "the poor kids".  That made me soooo happy!!

[ServinGsus]

Dec. 10, 2008 at 8:57 AM

YAY!  I love hearing about what people GIVE and not just what they wish for this time of year!!!

(Original Poster)

[Ryleighsmom06]

Dec. 10, 2008 at 9:13 AM

I sent some christmas presents to a friend of mine thats in need.

Great list!

 

[realtorshelly]

Dec. 10, 2008 at 9:48 AM

Wonderful Ideas ! :o)  Thank you.

[fmattso]

Dec. 10, 2008 at 10:22 AM

We just moved and haven't found a chuch so our tithe money is up in the air but we still want to do something with it so we are giving it to our daughter to buy toys for needy kids. Her school is doing a toy drive so we are going to go shopping after school today! She missed out on doing shoeboxes this year so we are letting her do this instead. it will be lot of fun for both of us. I would much rather give presents. It's way more fun!!