The Christmas spirit

[Cheyenne]

Time to think of Christmas!!!!

I like the Christmas season as a chance to be generous to others less fortunate then most of us. If you have a tree for gift giving at your local shopping mall, consider grabbing a tag from it this year and adding one more gift to your shopping list. Some less fortunate person could have a great Christmas just because an anonymous person cared enough to share.

The gifts requested aren't usually very expensive. Some are very practical- grocery store gift certificates, robes, socks, sweaters, gloves, hats, etc. Some are kids who have dreams of a football, basketball, or cd player.

In many cases, it may be the only gift they get this year.

 

[Star of Penumbra]

I don't celebrate Christmas.

 

[lovetoread]

The kids have a tree at school to choose from. There are no names, just simple requests.

Its a good way to help without embarrassing the kids who are going to receive these gifts.

 

[Bidin~Time]

This year I asked my family members to take whatever money they planned to spend on me and take a name or two off the wish trees and spend it there. I may not have everything I WANT but I have everything I NEED and that makes me so much more fortunate than alot of people.

 

[estevie]

Time to think of Christmas!!!!



The gifts requested aren't usually very expensive. Some are very practical- grocery store gift certificates, robes, socks, sweaters, gloves, hats, etc. Some are kids who have dreams of a football, basketball, or cd player.

In many cases, it may be the only gift they get this year.

This is what I do. A gift certificate to Wal-Mart or K-mart or something like that. They can pick out what they want or need. I hate thinking of giving a game to some child when they could really use some new winter boots. A gift certificate lets the parents get what needs to be got. Of course, I'm sure a few of my certificates have gone to buy things other than what a child needs. Its a chance you take, I guess.

 

[Rubyfruit]

I may not have everything I WANT but I have everything I NEED and that makes me so much more fortunate than alot of people.

I feel exactly the same way. I asked my family to please not buy any gifts for me and only a simple, inexpensive toy for the kids (nothing that makes noise or requires batteries please! Oh, and Nothing with a million little pieces in it - thanks.)

 

[MissTaken]

We gather our stuffed animals and give them to the church. They are then sent off to needy children.

It is nice, because the kids help me chose which stuffed animals the needy children would enjoy and hence, are learning as well.

I do remember my 11th Christmas. This was a particularly difficult Christmas in the wake of my parent's divorce and my mom had still not been able to find financial security. Of course in the 70's, child support was based on what dad felt he could offer and the workforce for women ...well that is another thread.

So, we had a family meeting and mom told us we could have groceries or we could have Christmas. We, being children, voted for Christmas. So, mom bought a meager supply of groceries.

That year the church stopped to deliver groceries to a family identified as being especially needy. It was us. My mother sobbed and refused to accept the groceries. (They were welcome, although we had food, eggs and oatmeal and hot dogs really were getting stale!)

Assumably, the groceries would be Christmas dinner fixin's, which we didn't need as we were going to my grandmother's house. Then, this troop of lovely ladies started bringing in bag after bag of groceries. One such lady, held my mom as she cried and comforted her, praising her for her contribution adn generosity and encouraging her to accept the gift.

Then! I saw them! Oreo cookies! I approached mom with the most sincere of looks on my face and told her, "Mom, it is okay. Next year, we will help someone else!"

Ultimately, after the youngest brother opened the cookies, mom had no choice....

It was a difficult lesson concerning pride, love and parenting, but a memory that remains with me.

To this day, you can get whatever you want from me with a bribe of Oreos!

 

[Agent99]

I prefer giving practical gifts to charitable causes as well. Local agencies and tv stations always sponsor drives to collect winter coats or eyeglasses for children. This seems more worthwhile than toys ~ since I figure they will get those from other social services.

At work, we 'adopt' families who have come to the attention of these organizations and have provided us with the information. We collect donations of toys, clothing, small appliances and money. Then we go out and purchase items that fulfill their wish lists. We follow up with them during the year because, after all, needs don't get met just at Christmas.

 

[Merelan]

To this day, you can get whatever you want from me with a bribe of Oreos! [/B]

Yes, now I know how to get you!!!


We too have been through lean times, as youths in a huge family and even as a new couple just laid off from jobs. And someone always was there to lend a hand, a dollar, a dinner. And oh dilly, did it hurt to accept.

But we swore then and followed up with helping out now. With the same. A dinner, a dollar, a gift, a card. Anytime we think something will help.

I hope the following doesn't break any rules here but think Laurel will understand.
Cymbidia shared this site with me, and I adore the concept and thoughtfulness of it.

http://www.actsofkindness.org/

Giving doesn't have to be expensive, doesn't even have to cost.

 

[erosman]

The best Christmas I remember, was one where we had no gifts to open (a closed, international border and stuff). We gave from what we had. It was all about others. It was different. It was eye-opening.

 

[Cheyenne]

I hope the following doesn't break any rules here but think Laurel will understand.
Cymbidia shared this site with me, and I adore the concept and thoughtfulness of it.

http://www.actsofkindness.org/

Giving doesn't have to be expensive, doesn't even have to cost.

Looks like it will be a cool site once it gets up and running- seems to be very new at the moment. The concept is good though.

 

[Merelan]

hey, it's been up for a while. Maybe something didn't load right.

Sorry. Has some cool stories where people shared little things.

The idea isn't Christmas but in giving. The spirit of the Holidays should be that, not rampant commercialism and how much can I get.

 

[Cheyenne]

*shameless bump*

For the evening crew.

Later, gators.

 

[ChrissyChick]

Every year I like to go to Wal-Mart and get personal hygene products and make gift baskets and donate to the red cross. My Aunts house burned down around Christmas and they were so helpful to her. I feel the red cross is a great placw to donate.

 

[peachykeen]

It also is worth bearing in mind that this time of year is the time when an awful lot of people are feeling lonely and blue, if they are seperated or estranged from family for whatever reason.

My personal thing is that I like to check in on elderly folks in the neighborhood and see how they are doing. Last year I helped a few people just put up a few decorations, sat and had tea with them. It's amazing how much a little bit of effort makes people so happy.

 

[cybergirly]

I have a new neighbor who moved in across the street about a month ago. I live in a gated community, with a large part of the neighborhood being seniors. I was touched when I found out that on Thanksgiving day this new neighbor took dinner to all the seniors that didn't have family or friends with them. I spent a while talking to him Friday and found out he plans on doing the same thing for Christmas. I offered to help. What a wonderful gift a small amount of money and time can make for someone else.

 

[Cheyenne]

We have a lot of cool people here at Lit- sometimes we just forget.

All of you people rock.

 

[seXieleXie]

i don't like christmas.

christmas has always been a reminder that i'm an outsider, looking in. i don't feel charitable during christmas, i feel alone and poor and i hate it. i get sucked into the spirit of the season (materialism) and end up thinking more about the things i don't have than the things i do.

 

[Guru]

 

[Cheyenne]

I stopped giving when I found out what the "poor" were really like.

Dare I ask?

Whatever it is, I'm sure it can't be a blanket comment on ALL the poor people of the world. My suggestion is that if you don't trust one charity group, find another that you do trust.

 

[Cheyenne]

*shameless bump for the weekday crew*