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| Giving and Volunteering during the holiday season - |
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victims cry
 Posted:
Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:37 pm |
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Giving and Volunteering during the holiday season
Cat asked for this thread, and I thought those who posted in HE on it, might want to copy their posts here?
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On Vacation!
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
Posts: 9275
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| woebedamned
Posted:
Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:59 pm |
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One my favorite Christmas traditions for our family started years ago, by request of our son.
He was in second grade at the time.
A couple weeks before Christmas, he came from school in tears. His teacher’s house has burnt to the ground the night before. They had lost everything. Our community was quick in coming together for the family. Our son was concerned his teacher and her family would have no Christmas tree. So we went to the local tree lot and purchased a tree, then headed off to Hobby Lobby to get the trimmings. We delivered a fully trimmed tree to the family. The teacher and her husband were so thankful, and their children were happy to have a place for Santa to put their gifts.
Now, each year, right after the holidays, we head off to Hobby Lobby to get the bargains on decorations and an artificial tree. We put it away till the following holiday season, when we trim it out, and deliver it to a local family that would otherwise be without. The first few years we bought live trees, but we then began to think that by giving the artificial trees, we would be giving them something they could use for many years to come.
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Damn it All!!!!
Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 6287
Location: pathetic joke of an American, bitter, gun clinging, God loving, racist cracker
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| justamom
Posted:
Mon Nov 13, 2006 4:27 pm |
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We volunteer and send things to a soldier we adopt every year. Sometimes we get cool little thank you notes back, sometimes we dont. I do it mostly for my kids because I come from a military family and know how important it is to support our troops. I plan to do it again this year, and maybe my two little ones will get a note back, or maybe not. Either way its my way of showing appreciation for those who defend our rights to freedom that so many often take for granted.
On thanksgiving my parents and I usually go to the soup kitchen and volunteer our time feeding the less fortunate. I hvent been home in 3 yrs for thanksgiving so cant take too much credit for that recently. I am going home though this thanksgiving 
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justaMILF
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 6604
Location: in a cute farmhouse
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| Kay_The_Kitten
Posted:
Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:12 pm |
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Something we do trough our regional office of my employer, but could be done on an individual basis by contacting your local shelter.
Our social committee has the Abused woman's shelter prepare several "needs and wishes list" that are identified as family 1, family 2, family 3, etc. The idea is that the social worker sits down with the woman and her children and writes a letter to "Santa"
Individuals or team groups take these list from one family and try to help make their Christmas a little better for these people and their children who tend to be young and no family support structure. The care package is delivered to the shelter labeled just as family 1 etc. which protects both the confidentiality of the giver and receiver, while bringing a little cheer to a totally cheerless Christmas that these people are having
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Geek
Joined: 14 Apr 2006
Posts: 707
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| Torti
Posted:
Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:26 pm |
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Even though I cannot donate by going on our local Biker's Toy Run anymore, I donate through Toys for Tots at our shopping mall. Our local toy run is overall one of the biggest contributors to Operation Holiday here and the mountains of toys collected is astounding. Our local Marine Corps provides the trucks to haul them from the collection point to downtown.
This year about 2500 bikes participated in the toy run, and the riders enjoyed the chili feed fundraiser, too. The Roadkill Chili is famous. I'll try to find out how much in dollars in addition to the toys was raised.
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Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 179
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| SavannahStar
Posted:
Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:13 am |
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Our church usually has an "angel tree" at Christmas time, for clothes or toy items for local disadvantaged kids. The tree is decorated with little tags tied on with ribbons...and they say, for instance, "boy age 11" or "girl age 2"......you pick a tag, or more than one, and then buy something for the kid, bring it back and put it under the tree, with the tag attached.
I always like to pick a girl because I have a son, not a daughter, and it's kinda fun buying for a girl since I never got to do that. It's also fun going out and seeing what toys/clothes are popular now for children, since my own is 21. The older people at my church just love it too, as many of them have no grandkids to buy for themselves. Everyone benefits!
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**SuperStar**
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 20783
Location: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
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| AuntJ
Posted:
Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:47 pm |
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I donate to Toys for Tots also. A marine and a collection box are always at our local Wal-Mart (beginning this weekend I believe). I'm usually there at least twice a week. Everytime I go, I buy a toy (or 2) and put it in the box on the way out. This works as a 2-fer - I donate toys and get to thank the Marine for his service at the same time. Sometimes I buy a few little toys, sometimes a larger toy. I usually buy more or a larger toy the last time I do this before Christmas. I think I spend more time picking out the toy than I do my other shopping when I'm there !
Also, its a tradition with me and also my mom that whenever we do our Christmas shopping, if there is a Salvation Army bell ringer outside whatever store we are in, we make sure we give all our change to them (and usually a few dollars more). We try to do this always but make a special point of it when doing our Christmas shopping. My mom always did this when she was little, taught us kids to do it and I know my other family members do it too.
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Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 131
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:10 pm |
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A true story emailed to me by a dear friend appropriate for this time of year, but really for any time at all:
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.
The last class I had to take was Sociology.
The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.
Her last project of the term was called "Smile."
The class was asked to go out
and smile at three people and document their reactions.
I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.
It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.
We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.
I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had
moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.
As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling".
His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.
He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.
The second man fumbled with his hands
as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.
He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).
Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.
I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.
I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.
He looked up at me, with
tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you."
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope."
We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.
We are not church goers, but we are believers.
That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.
I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.
I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it.
Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"
I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.
She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need
to heal people and to be healed.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to
LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8843
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| Katie
Posted:
Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:37 pm |
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I always make up a care package for the local womans shelter , I know what it is like to be scared and alone at Chrismas.
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Joined: 25 Mar 2006
Posts: 4961
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:45 pm |
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| Katie wrote: | | I always make up a care package for the local womans shelter , I know what it is like to be scared and alone at Chrismas. |
Great Katie - and I am hopeful that you will never be scared or alone ever again. Many stories we all have behind these nics and words we share.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8843
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| Katie
Posted:
Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:13 pm |
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| Ineed2know wrote: | | Katie wrote: | | I always make up a care package for the local womans shelter , I know what it is like to be scared and alone at Chrismas. |
Great Katie - and I am hopeful that you will never be scared or alone ever again. Many stories we all have behind these nics and words we share. |
Ah thanks sweetie but the way I look at it what I've been through in live has only made me stronger and I was luckier than most I had an education behind me and I rebuilt my life. I don't regret that i married my ex I have three beautiful children from him but I do regret that he couldn't get better for them but you can't help anyone who doesn't realize they have a problem.
Yes I belive we have some amazing posters here ,
Thats the part I hated about the gang because they would make most people feel very uncomfortable sharing their life experiences.
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Joined: 25 Mar 2006
Posts: 4961
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:48 pm |
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| Katie wrote: | | Ineed2know wrote: | | Katie wrote: | | I always make up a care package for the local womans shelter , I know what it is like to be scared and alone at Chrismas. |
Great Katie - and I am hopeful that you will never be scared or alone ever again. Many stories we all have behind these nics and words we share. |
Ah thanks sweetie but the way I look at it what I've been through in live has only made me stronger and I was luckier than most I had an education behind me and I rebuilt my life. I don't regret that i married my ex I have three beautiful children from him but I do regret that he couldn't get better for them but you can't help anyone who doesn't realize they have a problem.
Yes I belive we have some amazing posters here ,
Thats the part I hated about the gang because they would make most people feel very uncomfortable sharing their life experiences. |
Great for you and your kids! You are absolutely right, only the person who surrenders can rebuild his or her life - and keeping God in it will only make it all the more successful and joyful. I have many stories of rebuilt lives, families and marriages, it CAN happen, but only as you say.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8843
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