Making Chistmas Giving Memorable

If you live in Boise area, I know of a family that could use a Christmas. Otherwise, have you thought of adults with disabilities? They are usually pretty poor and would be overjoyed with any kind of Christmas gift. I am talking about adults with mental retardation that are trying to live on their own. If you live in Boise area, I have contacts.

Merry Christmas!

Lori,

In the past we have put presents under the tree that we later take with the kids to a local homeless shelter on Christmas Day, they are usually presents for kids the same ages as mine. So the kids get to give a gift to a child at the shelter and be there when they open it. It has really opened my kids eyes to giving instead of recieving. We don't do it every year because sometimes money doesn't allow, and the years we don't do it the kids ask about it and always talk about it. It has also helped my kids be more grateful for what they have.
Also we have done the 12 days of Christmas for a family that we know, and the kids really get into the spirit of that, they enjoy hiding, seeing the face of the person who answers the door and hearing their children talk about it at school. My kids are pretty good at keep secrets so that works for us.

how about taking your kids to a nursing home or assisted living center and baking cookies with the elders, you could also get a group of friends together and go caroling, maybe have hot chocolate afterwards. when i worked at a nursing home the elders just loved it when kids would come in to visit. merry christmas!

I know this is late but I can't resist cheering you on with a few more ideas to consider. ;)
In Utah, there is always Christmas Box House, which provides shelter for children before they are matched with a foster family. They always need birthday party items, since many kids are stuck there when it's their birthday, and many have never had a real birthday party. If your family celebrates the religious aspects of Christmas, you may enjoy talking about the Savior's birthday and combining that with choosing birthday party items for kids at the Christmas Box House.
There are also numerous women's shelters which serve children, too. The one I am most familiar with is Safe Harbor in Davis County. They always need items to keep moms and children comfortable while they figure out where to go next.
The Human Society of Utah graciously accepts donations to help homeless pets there. If your kids like animals they may really enjoy helping out there, and many of the siuggested donation items are cheap and easy to get (cat litter, newspaper, etc.). Could be an opportunity to talk about helping places that provide shelter to people and pets who do not yet have permanent homes, and how Mary and Joseph were a little bit displaced in crowded Bethlehem and could have used some help, too.
Finally, have you looked into Heifer International? It may not meet your criteria of being able to see firsthand the difference you make, but it is pretty amazing. Their on-line catalog explains in detail how your donation is used, and you can choose what sort of animal (bees, sheep, goat, cow, chicks) to gift to a family in need who can use it to sustain themselves and help their community's economy. www.heifer.org, I think, is their Web site.
Best wishes!

I am not sure where you live. I was the volunteer coordinator for the Denver Rescue Mission. Having the kids help serve dinner is an awesome impact not only for them but for the men and women who come in. However, most homeless shelters have all their volunteers want to serve on Christmas and those slots are usually filled by now. So, if you are flexible with your dates the shelters can use servers all year long. So, maybe a mid-day lunch the next couple weeks. I promise it is an experience you will never foret.

God bless you and thank you for teachig your children such valuable lessons.

Also, if you do live in Denver or No. Colorado message me, I have some connections with DRM and there are lots of opportunities to reach out to kids through this organization.

I am helping deliver small gifts from our church to our "Shut-ins". It is just a small fleece lap blanket wrapped with a beautiful ribbon and ornament attached but is very practical for the people intended for.

I take my girls with me to visit. It has been not only a history lesson for them sometimes but also a NICE time for those we visit. Often they have memory problems and their families have heard it all many times but we can listen and learn.

We also often sing Christmas carols with them and can see the joy on the faces of "our" people. The kids leave feeling the good that they have helped share for the season.

How about volunterring a couple of hours to deliver holiday dinners donated by a local church? Seeing the faces of people receiving something unexpected and needed is a wonderful gift to you and your children.

One year my kids and I picked a poorer family in our neighborhood and bought presents for them. We bought a dress shirt and tie for the boy because he was staying away from Church because he didn't any. We put the presents on the porch and rang the door bell and hid. Our kids were delighted to see the happy look on their friend's faces when they saw the presents.

Have you thought about volunteering your time at a nursing home or a food kitchen? That way, they can see that there are other ways to give besides money or things, but also their time.

My girls and I have donated our time to Toys for Tots making deliveries of the toys. My children have seen some pretty great people living in poor situations and Christmas seemed to take on a whole new meaning for them. They are 14, 12 and 6. We have done it for 4 years now.

Food banks a hurting this year and begging for help. Also, My daughter loves to help at soup kitchens. It is a way to help see how truely bleesed we are and at any minute we could lose everything.
C. B

While it is a late suggestion for this year, we always do shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child www.samaritanspurse.org My boys loved picking out the stuff to put in the shoeboxes. I let each of them do 1 or 2 for boys the same age as them. One year we lived in an area where the curch we attended was the county relay center and we got to help get the shoeboxes ready to ship to the processing center. If you live near a processing center when your kids are at least 12 or 13, you can volunteer to help there.

Call your local hospital and ask about the children in the intensive care ward. Maybe you could purchase some stuffed animals and deliver them to the children that won't be able to get to their own home for Christmas? I know this year we did a food drive, went through all the good shaped toys that weren't played with, cleaned them up and took them to a donation site then took a name off the angel tree at church and got something for a little boy. Call your local city offices too, they know of families that don't even have ornaments or anything and maybe you could help them decorate their Christmas tree?

Go to the social services office and see if you can still adopt a family that otherwise would not have Christmas. How about a Children's hospital? Local food bank? Homeless shelter? Summer programs for disadvantaged kids(it just doesn't have to be the holidays)? What about your kids school? If not theirs are there some schools in your area that need help? Would you want to cook and serve for your local firemen/policemen or paramedics? Good Luck this is lots of fun to do year after year.

Hi Lori, I am so happy to hear you are teaching your children to give back. Thank you for this. you could try baking some holiday goodies and taking them to your local va home or to a childrens hospital. they so enjoy the company and the goodies. this also will teach your children to enjoy the elderly or the health that you all have. Have fun

Happy Kids Day Care on 21st South and Main Street provides daycare for immigrants.
They do a wonderful job!
They have kids from all over the globe, including Iraq. Most of the parents are educated but cannot get a high paying job here due to language, etc. Some of the parents bring their kids without any diapers b/c they cannot afford them.
Happy Kids takes kids regardless of the ability to pay so that the parents can work to better their lives.
They need diapers, formula, CLOTHES for kids newborn to 4 years old.
Take your kids and go visit to drop off. When I went I read stories to the kids there.
Also, if you have today's (Saturdays) Salt Lake Tribune there is a list of charities needing help right now.
Blessings.

If your kids attend a public school, check in the office. The school usually has connections with the community to give gifts to some kids in that school who otherwise would not have much under the tree.

Try to find out where the locale womens homeless shelter is and have your family volunteer there and you kiddos are old enough to give time to those children who normally don't have anyone to play a simple game with.
This year in addition to helping others we decided to let our children pick out eachothers names and really take into consideration of what the needs are and what they would appreciate. I is a wonderful thing you are doing to show them how lucky they are to be with such a great family. Good luck and god bless