I did two things this week I've never done before and I am so humbled by the experience I wanted to share it with you.

First, our Salvation Army had it's Thanksgiving Dinner yesterday. We served 128 people, men women and little children a dinner of healthy hot food. It was very humbling to me because these people "thanked and blessed" us for giving to them. Each child got a pair of mittens and hat donated from Wally World.

Second, I helped this AM take applications for the SA for Christmas baskets....our food bank has been pretty low this past fall, and we wanted to get a head start incase we didn't have enough to go around. I've been on the receiving end of this process when my boys were little, so I do know how it feels, but looking into the eyes of a mom who wants nothing than food and a toy or two for her kids brought me to almost tears many times. Each and every adult parent who came through wanted NOTHING for themselves just for their kids. It was an amazing feeling for me.

So what has this got to do with us? Well, I am thinking that many of us want to know what we can do this Thanksgiving and Christmas for someone else. If NOTHING else, have your kids put together a sack of canned goods and take it to your women's shelter, SA, or food bank. Have them take it in...have them pick out a toy or two for a boy or girl, put the age on the outside of the wrapped present and have them give it to the people you are helping. Maybe YOU could give a pair of adults socks, gloves, hat, scarf marked "for mom" "for dad". It does indeed feel better to give than receive.

God bless you all....and thanks for letting me put in a plug.

quote:

Originally posted by cobismom:
Lori and those of us who also have kids, don't they just knock your socks off every once in awhile with their ideas. Give your daughter a BIG hug for me!

My thoughts too.

Two years ago my gift from DH was sponsering an orphan in Ethiopia which was what I asked for....nothing else. We still sponsor a child and it makes me so happy every month (and all month) when I write that check.

I am also in charge of K-Kids at our school this year and we are making picture books for the orphans at the same orphange I donate money too.

One of our teachers has been to the orphanage twice and she did a slide show for us which warms my heart. Those kids are so thrilled with so little (a balloon is a huge hit and they are older kiddoes). I am always humbled when she does the slide show...seeing how little they have and how HUGE there smiles are!!!!

She said the kids will be very excited to get the simple books which we may not think as much....they just love that people care about them and will enjoy the books very much.

Lori and those of us who also have kids, don't they just knock your socks off every once in awhile with their ideas. Give your daughter a BIG hug for me!

The store where i work has 3 projects going on right now. First we are selling the $1 donations for St Judes at the register. Everyone has put in some of their own money as well. For Christmas we are planning on adopting a family through the local woman's shelter. We will provide a holiday meal, tree, trimmings and presents. The third is that we are trying to come up with a fund raiser for the American cancer Society. One of our staff has been diagnosed as terminal and will most likely not see this Christmas. The donation will be made in her name.

On a bit of a more personal front. I am creating something special for my mother's side of the family. Her mother passed away before seeing any of her grandchildren born. I stumbled on a bunch of her recipies when we were cleaning up my mom's house. I am going to make a "Grandma Laurette's cookbook" I'll scan some photos into it as well. I'll print up copies for my Aunts/Uncles and cousins on that side of the family. The last year has really shown me how awsome it can be to have such a huge caring family.

The firm where I work has been doing fundraising for the troops, bake sales and pay $5 (at least) to wear jeans to work on Fridays, so I have been participating in that. Additionally, the firm has a Toys For Tots drive and for every toy we employees donate, the firm gives a monetary contribution to the organization, so I will definitly do that.

Also, our practice group has decided to bring a toy to donate to Angel Tree or some such organization instead of doing the yearly "While Elephant" gag gift exchange.

I purchased poinsettias from the "Children's Hospital of Atlanta" fund raiser.

I also did the "Scott's Run" (I walked) for Catholic Social Services to raise money for their immigrant children project. This is a great project. Scott was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officer, here in the Atlanta area, who went to great lengths to help the immigrant children he dealt with in the course of his work. He did everything he could to assist them and always treated them with respect and dignity. He was killed in an automobile accident 2 years ago. This fund raiser was created in his name so that immigrant children can still get the help they need.

Dawn

quote:

Originally posted by Lori4squaremom:
I didn't read the whole posts/thread, but kind of have the gist of it. My 13 year old daughter blew my socks off this week! She told me that what she wants for Christmas this year (and after further prodding, it is the ONLY thing that she wants) is for us to buy something through worldvision.com/christmas in her name. She wants to help someone that has no one else to help them.... Ok, can you say SELFLESS? Yes, my dh and I are EXTREMELY proud of her! She has also inspired a couple of the adult leaders in her youth group at church (they had a girls' night out last night and were talking about Christmas and she shared what she wants for Christmas with them) to do the same thing this year for Christmas. So, my little 13 year old darling could actually be making a BIG difference this year!

That's so sweet Lori.

Dawn

My extended family all lost everything in Katrina in September 2005, so i am just grateful we are all alive. My mother in law lives with us now and this has brought us all closer. My niece's family moved here with her family so now, i have these 3 great nephews in our lives. we all have our family issues but we survived thru a huge crisis.
also, in july, a 12 year old girl in our neighborhood died suddenly. what a vibrant beautiful child, and good friend to my daughter. her photo is on my frig, and when i get frustrated about something, i look at her photo, i take a breath and say a short prayer of gratitude for my blessings and try to let go of my frustration or irritation.thanks for starting this topic. how very timely. iz

I almost always donate to Habitat for Humanity each year at this time. But this year I also wrote a nice check to the Gleaner's Food Bank here in town. I hope to have a bit extra to pick up some Toys for Tots as well.

Money is a bit low this year, so it's a homemade gift kind of year. Now I just need enough time to get everything made.

I didn't read the whole posts/thread, but kind of have the gist of it. My 13 year old daughter blew my socks off this week! She told me that what she wants for Christmas this year (and after further prodding, it is the ONLY thing that she wants) is for us to buy something through worldvision.com/christmas in her name. She wants to help someone that has no one else to help them.... Ok, can you say SELFLESS? Yes, my dh and I are EXTREMELY proud of her! She has also inspired a couple of the adult leaders in her youth group at church (they had a girls' night out last night and were talking about Christmas and she shared what she wants for Christmas with them) to do the same thing this year for Christmas. So, my little 13 year old darling could actually be making a BIG difference this year!

I so agree Cathy! There is just nothing better than helping others.

DD's school just had their food drive for our local food bank. We went shopping together and filled her back pack to the brim with food. I saw the buckets overflowing at school when I was volunteering yesterday.

Our local children and family services do giving trees right after Thanksgiving and we always do that. I try to pick a child that is the same age as my son would have been and then Cori and I got pick out clothes, toys, books etc...

Dh and I give a turkey to the food bank and his company actually gives out a bunch of them as well.

We also donate money to the charities that have directly touched our lives at holiday time as well.

To me, it's the best part of the holiday season.

DD has started donating her own allowance money as well so that makes us proud and also happy that we're setting a good example for her while she's still young.