The holiday season is a time where our desire to help others comes front and center. Been hearing a lot about folks wanting to give less in the way of physical gifts at holiday time in trade for quality time spent together. Here's just a few of my ideas for a way to give a shared experience to each other while giving to others. A TRUE win/win!
Reallocate your gift giving dollars!!
Let’s say you and a friend or family member would normally spend $25 each on each other this holiday. That gives you a pool of $50. Here are some fun and wonderful things to do with it that will be so rewarding there will be no way to measure it!
A. Decide who you know who is needy and will receive it as an anonymous gift. Put it in cash and leave it for the person to discover. Then tell no one that you have done this. Let it be a secret that only you guys share.
B. Go together to a thrift store and buy $50 worth of warm clothing. You can get a lot for that if you are creative! Combine it with good cast-offs from your own homes. Go together to a woman’s shelter and donate the clothes. I did this once; and when I told the thrift shop woman at St Vincent de Paul what we were doing, she was so happy that she filled up my car to the brim with warm coats for only 50 dollars.
C. Shop for $50 worth of non perishable food for a food pantry. Find ways to stretch that 50 - Mac and cheese, rice, canned tomatoes, boxed milk, cereal, etc. Even better, decide to max it out by booking a day to serve at the pantry or food together - preferable not on the holidays as people tend to only volunteer then, and they need people all year round!
Knitters/sewers - why not make hats, socks or gloves for those in need with remnants? It can be fun to run out to find it together, make a goal of how many each will do by a certain date, and keep in touch egging each other on - or get together one afternoon or evening, put on some good music, a football game or Netflix and make them together. The point is to share the experience!
Knitters/sewers - why not make hats, socks or gloves for those in need with remnants? It can be fun to run out to find it together, make a goal of how many each will do by a certain date, and keep in touch egging each other on - or get together one afternoon or evening, put on some good music, a football game or Netflix and make them together. The point is to share the experience!
photo from Knittingparadise.com
D. Buy a gift certificate for a fun place like a local zoo, water park or art studio (i.e.: where you can paint ceramics) and give it - even anonymously- to a struggling family you know who have kids. You can buy a GC online but I'd suggest getting together in front of the laptop to decide what to get together, along with hot cocoa or hot toddies!
E. Make a themed gift basket for a family in need. Tie jingle bells or add candy canes to make the donation festive. You may even want to deliver it together to the family. Dress up while you're at it!
Photo by Blonderambitions.comm
Here is a nice list to give you more ideas:
F. Buy ingredients for healthy soup, cookies, little banana bread or zucchini loaves - maybe even pasta sauce... Cook it together and deliver them to an old folks home or a women's shelter. Call in advance to propose the idea - these days you may have to visit in person first so they know you are legit - and get the joy of not just dropping them off but going room to room to deliver them yourselves. Again, a prime time to go in festive dress and bring real cheer along with your homemade goodness. The effect will be priceless.
Why not also take the time to write a heartfelt note about what the person or people you did it with means to you? The bow on the gift!
Enjoy the gift of building that bond by doing something this meaningful together!
HAVE MORE IDEAS?
Pls leave them IN THE COMMENTS
and do good just by inspiring others that way!
HAVE MORE IDEAS?
Pls leave them IN THE COMMENTS
and do good just by inspiring others that way!
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