Christmas Donation

What fabulous ideas and what wonderful, caring attributes that you are teaching your son. Congratulations K. for being such a loving, generous person and such a wise and caring Mom!!!
Would it be alright with you if I share this idea with my two daughters who have children? I think they would LOVE this idea for their childrens next birthday or other holiday!!!
I wonder if you could find a way for your son and his friends to be involved in adopting a nursing home...a small one somewhere, not one of the big high dollar ones that already has so much but a small local one that would love to have someone come in and help. When my daughter was young, our church group went to a local nursing home ( we lived in a small farming community) twice a month...once to lead a time of singing the old standard hymns with them and once to do some small crafts that they could enjoy doing. The thing that the residents enjoyed the most were the children that came with the adults. My daughter formed a close bond with one elderly man who just fell in love with her....it was like a grandfather, grandchild relationship.
Maybe your son and his friends could make small table decorations ( or tray decorations for the ones who can't come into the dining room) to go along with the current season or holiday. You would have to keep in mind that it couldnt be anything that the resident could hurt themselves with, but there would be a lot of cute ideas in an online craft website, I am sure. Maybe they could learn some of the old songs that would bring smiles to the residents...and perform them for them in the social area. Just visiting with them and learning about their lives would be beneficial not only to the residents but to the children as well.
Congratulations again on being such a kind and caring person and teaching these same values to your son!!
R. Ann

What an awesome idea. Good for you for doing this.

Do you all have a coats for kids in your area.. Our city Jr. League collects coats and jackets for children who cannot afford them. They then have a local cleaners who agrees to clean all of them. On a certain day they hold a huge giveaway.. It takes hundreds of volunteers to help size and help the children find a jacket that they want.

If your city has this program .. Your son could contact your neighborhood school, and churches about collecting coats and jackets,, then go on the day of the event and help give away the coats and jackets.. They also have breakfast so he could help serve the refreshments..

Adopting a class room is also a great idea.. At our daughters elementary, we adopted a low income elementary school and made sure EVERY child in that school recieved a gift wrapped present.. The teachers told us this may be the only present these children would receive.. One little girl did not open her gift.. she said she was going to save it and give it to her mother for Christmas!

Organizing a group to help is great. I know so many families that want to do this type of thing, but do not know how or do not have time, since both parents work... You would give them the opportunity to participate.

an orphanage in Mexico and made sure every child had a new pair of shoes, new underwear and socks.. We then donated specific items to each child.

my daughter and her friends came over and made tons of cards for sick children in a cancer hospital... just to make them happy.. things like have a great sunshiney day... and put pics of the sun... and smileys... lots of stickers on the card and a few inside for the kids to use... they didn't dwell on their illnesses... just fun smiley like cards.. we made like 200 sent it to a hospital close by... we included a few packs of cards, bubbles, a few small balls, jacks, monkeys in a barrell.. all small stuff that they can play with in bed... it was really nice.. and made the kids feel good.

My family hosts a Toys for Tots party every year. We rent the local abse theater and show a G or PG rated Christmas movie (so far The Polar Express, Muppets Christmas, and The Santa Caluse) and just ask each family to bring a gift to donate to Toys for Tots. I drive a big Nissan Armada and last year had it full of toys that were donated (with all of the seats down!!). My kids get involved with the preperations and each pick a toy to donate as well. It's great because it is geared towards younger kids and it gives to those who definitely need it. I used to see Toys for tots boxes but rarely dropped anything in there...by doing this, I know we are getting out to many more people who would not otherwise donate. Maybe try something like that!! This year we even have a Marine set up to come collect the toys at the party and cup cakes are being donated by a local woman who bakes for a living!! YEA!!