Christmas Giving Projects Everyone Can Plan
Inexpensive Programs for Helping Those in Greatest Need
Christmas is a time of happiness and giving, but significant groups are often left out. Putting together programs that bring holiday cheer to those living on the fringes of normal gift giving is rewarding and inexpensive. Whether as an individual or as a group, anyone can make a difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
Schools and Children's Homes
Many elementary and middle schools are located in areas of acute poverty and children attending these schools seldom experience even one Christmas gift. Often, these schools have no PTAs or other on-going support groups. Adopting one or more schools through churches, civic groups, social organizations, or private individuals can go a long way in touching the lives of these children. The same program can be applied to Children's Homes or orphanages.
An inexpensive yet thoughtful response is the “shoe box” gift. Obtain enough shoe boxes and distribute them among the group. Fill each box with small items such as crayons, books, toys, and a healthy snack. Many of these items can be purchased at one of the many dollar stores. Regulate the contents by setting spending limits per box. Include items students can use in school as well as personal items.
Rest and Rehabilitation Homes
Every community has one or more rest homes. In many cases, the elderly seldom hear from family members and holiday times can be keenly painful. Senior citizens in assisted living facilities are often the most invisible of all people. Delivering Christmas gifts personally can be highly rewarding and lets the elderly know that they have not been forgotten.
Create a list of items that seniors need such as skin creams, lotions, clothing, blankets, etc. Working with facility personnel will often result in realistic lists reflecting specific needs. As with the shoe box approach discussed above, place items in a box or a basket. One item that should be in every basket is a small plush animal toy. When rest home residents do receive holiday visits from grandchildren, they will have something to give as a Christmas present.
Food Banks and Soup Kitchens
Although many community groups facilitate and promote the giving of food staples throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, an ever increasing number of food banks are reporting severe shortages as unemployment rises and greater numbers of people face hardship and deprivation.
If living in an apartment or housing complex, solicit a group of neighbors to organize a neighborhood food collection project. Designate a common area to bring the food on a particular day or ask neighbors to place filled bags in front of their doors on the proscribed day.
Businesses can place food donation boxes at exits for use both by employees and patrons. Entire mini-malls and strip malls can develop coordinated programs to collect food donations as a group. All it takes is leadership from one or more merchants.
Volunteering time at soup kitchens or at food banks is another way to give back to the community. Organize groups like Sunday school classes, scouts, social support groups and others to dedicate one or more days to help the staffs of soup kitchens.
Christmas Giving Throughout the Year
Perhaps the greatest resolve in organizing a Christmas Giving Project is to keep it going all year. The spirit of holiday charity should never be packed away with the tree lights and ornaments. Some programs may need to be scaled back or retooled to work effectively on a year round basis, but giving consideration to an on-going program should be part of the final reflection.
The Spirit of Christmas
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