Giving Back

When my kids were young we started the holiday tradition of "Holiday for the Animals". Each year we'd make tree "ornaments" that were actually food for wildlife - things like peanut butter/birdseed pine cones, sliced mini bagels, chains of popcorn - and we'd make a trip to the woods to decorate trees. We'd make the same trip every week to see what had been eaten and to replenish. It was a cherished tradition for many years.

Have them go through their toys and clothes, choose things that are in good or "gently used" condition, and find a place to donate them. There are shelters for battered women (which you cannot visit) but many agencies that serve foster kids, homeless families, new immigrants and others who are either in temporary shelter or just getting their own new homes. They can use these items, and often you can take your kids right to the location to help. This is a great exercise before they get into the "new stuff" syndrome of the holidays!

We have an agency call the Interfaith Hospitality Network which houses families in transition from homelessness to homes. Different churches and synagogues take turns housing and feeding them. Sign up for a night, and work with your kids to prepare a meal at home which you then deliver. It's a good way for the kids to learn about nutrition and budgets as well as learn the skills needed to prepare a meal. They can help serve, and they can play with the guest kids to help distract them from their situation. Showing warmth and hospitality is important.

Find a nursing home that would like to have your kids come in to color pictures, make snowflakes or turkeys or other holiday/seasonal decorations with some of the residents. You can request that your kids work with a higher functioning group so they aren't frightened by too much medical equipment. An Alzheimer's unit often has higher functioning people who relate well to kids - sing songs or play gin rummy or any other activity the staff recommends.

Collect food for the local food pantry. Organize a drive in your neighborhood and have your kids create and distribute flyers, put a collection box outside your garage or on your porch, or go pick up food at a pre-determined time. Start a "change jar" with a big clear canister and ask your neighbors to clean out their car and couch cushions, or take all the coins from their wallets. It's a small, manageable amount from each family. Ask a local bank to sort the coins for your for free since it's being donated to a cause.

There are many food drives now, so consider doing another food drive in March or May when people aren't thinking charitably. Summer is the worst time for food pantries because everyone gets in "vacation mode", and many many children are home from school without a subsidized or free lunch program. If you put something on your calendar for every month, it will reach a lot of people and connect in your children's minds that charity is not just for Christmas, it's part of their lives.

Our son always had to take some of his money (birthday money, chore money, whatever) and give it to charity as well as savings, on top of what he wanted to spend on his fad of the moment. Make it a habit and it becomes second nature.

What about Operation Christmas Child? This is the big month for it. You fill a shoebox with things for a child. You're given a lot of helpful suggestions. Here's the link:

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-chris...

We give my son a set amount to donate to the charity of his choice, and we help him research options. Last year he chose Friends of the Library; not sure what it'll be this year.

We contribute to Toys For Tots.

I have adopted an old school's father. He lives here, is very elderly, she
lives on the east coast w/too many kids to kids to travel so I visit him
twice a week.

We donate food for those fortunate.

And that's about it. I'm sure I could do more. Maybe I'll get some more
ideas here.

There are many opportunities. You can support a food bank. You can help a neighbor (my stepkids knew that anytime it snowed, they needed to grab a shovel because we did our driveway and 3 other neighbors). You can participate in a coat drive. Bake cookies for firefighters. Go caroling at a nursing home. Collect old blankets and towels for an animal hospital or shelter. if they are old enough, consider asking the kids to serve a hot meal at a soup kitchen.

Child's Play is a charity for children stuck in hospitals over the holidays. It may resonate with them age-wise.

Giving is one of the best joys you can teach a child. We teach ours that giving is a one way street. It is not a precursor for something else. Not even for a thank you. It does not have to be big and it is not limited to the holidays. It also should not ask who deserves it or not.

Things you can do with kids
- RAK: leaving $ at parking meters (also vending machines and the toy aisle at the dollar store), paying for the person behind you in the drive through, buying snack &/ beverage for the salvation army bell ringer.

-Gather friends and do a shoebox frolic. You can fill boxes with essential toiletries and donate them to the local shelter or your school district. TIPS: Shoe stores like payless will gladly give you empty boxes. And your dentist may give you free toothbrushes and toothpaste. We were able to receive 2 dozen sets from ours last year. The year before we even got 144 tubes of toothpaste.

-Donate books or toys to a local children's hospital

-Rally some friends and do a simple fund raiser. In the past we have involved my dd's 3rd grade class. We made clay necklaces. Sold them to parents and was able to buy a goat for a family in a third world country. It's a great opportunity to teach kids about how other people live, geography and giving.

Well, part of my son's allowance is saved for him to 'give' and I think the holidays will be a good time for him to think about what he might like to donate to.

We have an elderly neighbor who is recently widowed and who has been very sweet to us over the past few years, esp. to Kiddo. We plan to do some acts of service for him (like raking leaves, etc) as I am sure he's dealing with funeral expenses. This way he won't have to pay a landscaping company, etc.

One thing we do regularly is take a few minutes to clear our storm drains when we see they need attention. It's our neighborhood... we should all be taking care of it.

Today I'm planning on collecting up a few windfall branches and wiring them together to create a 'thanksgiving' tree, where we can write one thing we are thankful for each day on paper leaves and hang them up until Thanksgiving Day. Just so we can remember to be aware of what we have.

His school also does food/clothing drives, so we try to make that consideration part of our shopping trip and to bring his attention to it.

Lastly, he has a lot of still-nice toys he doesn't play with any more, and I think we are going to very thoughtfully start donating them via Freecycle around the holiday season, or to a program which does respite for foster families, depending on what they need.

The Angel Tree is a great idea. If you children are a little older (7+), you could find a soup kitchen and donate your time.

For years we've collected for charity in lieu of gifts at our kids' birthday parties (the kids still get gifts from family). We always collect things for the Ronald McDonald House (paper towels, toilet paper). The kids love to help us deliver it all:)

I agree with most of what's been said, and you do great things, don't get me wrong, but instead of donating your money, donate your time. Send cards to soldiers overseas, rake leaves for an elderly neighbor, or for a single mom who may just not have time. take an extra 5 minutes and shovel the sidewalk in front of the house next door. Go to a nursing home and teach your kids the joy of just being there for people who may not have family.