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list of ways to demonstrate a tradition of giving

I once read an article about a woman who talked about her family’s tradition of giving at the holidays and how it began. Her son was a wrestler on his high school’s team. One day, the meet was against another school in a more impoverished district of the city. She recalled watching her son’s team file in with new uniforms and shiny shoes and all the gear that wrestlers need for protection. The other team came in with holes in their uniforms, well-worn shoes, and many were wearing no protective gear whatsoever. Her heart went out and a tradition was born. That Christmas, she bought some gear to donate to the other team. Her children came down to unwrap their gifts on Christmas morning, but were surprised to see an envelope hanging on the tree. When they opened it, the donation was explained. Each year after that, she was on the lookout for a worthy cause and each year she placed it in an envelope and stuck it in the branches of their tree.

I want my children to know and understand that we are a family that strives to help out those less fortunate than ourselves, that we should always be on the lookout to do good. Here are some ways you might start or continue your own tradition of giving.

  • Pick an angel off the Angel Tree in your local shopping area or mall.
  • Contact a local human services office and ask if there are any families that you can sponsor for Christmas. Get friends involved if it is a larger family.
  • Ask your local humane society for a list of supplies that they need, go shopping, and then deliver the supplies to the shelter. Take home a homeless animal while you are there.
  • Go on a baking spree and deliver baked goods to nursing homes and hospitals. Call ahead to find out about dietary restrictions.
  • Donate to the Box Project. Since 1962, The Box Project has been working to help people living in America’s worst areas of rural poverty.
  • JustGive is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people with the charities and causes they care about and to increase overall giving.
  • For those families with animal lovers, adopt an endangered animal at the World Wildlife Fund’s website.
  • Buy a new book for your local library (be sure to ask what books are on their wish list).
  • Deliver a stocking full of toiletries to your local homeless shelter.
  • Keep your eyes and ears open. This holiday season will offer plenty of ways to demonstrate human kindness and compassion.

Does your family have a tradition of giving? What is one of your favorite ways to give?

Tags: generosityphilanthropy
Jennifer Tankersley:

View Comments (13)

  • Jennifer, Oh my gosh I love the http://www.boxproject.org -I believe this is the organization we will choose this year to sponser.  Also the angel tree locally -we always try to pick a teen-age boy beacause they seem to be the ones that always  are left hanging on the tree :-(

  • Jennifer, Oh my gosh I love the http://www.boxproject.org -I believe this is the organization we will choose this year to sponser.  Also the angel tree locally -we always try to pick a teen-age boy beacause they seem to be the ones that always  are left hanging on the tree :-(

  • We like to do several different types of giving each year. We choose tags from a local giving tree that represent children of the same age as ours and fulfill their Christmas wish. Also, we fill a shoebox for Samaritan's Purse for a boy and girl, including photos and notes from our children to add a personal touch.

    My husband's business chooses a family in need and we contribute gifts to meet their needs. Their wishes are usually very practical such as clothing or food.

  • In years past we always did one specific charity for giving, but there always seemed to be problems with giving. We have decided that particular charity was not for us.
    I have been a part of Operation Christmas Child through the Samaritan's purse for years. This year SEVERAL groups we are involved with are reaching out in this way. It feels good to be a small part of something so big!
    We also typical do a Toys for Tots toy drop. I think our son will connect most with that one, so we will continue to be a part of it.
    @juliebavi

  • This is great! I have posted a link to it on my blog inviting my friends and family to join me in giving back this holiday season.

  • You have the best lists here and the ones you put here in this blog are so universally helpful! MomDot sent me over and I'm glad they did!
    doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
    Elizabeth

  • We are going to participate in Operation Christmas Child through our church and through my MOPS group. This year my daughter is at the age where she will be able to help me fill up a couple of shoeboxes full of goodies for kids in other countries. I can't wait to help make a child (or two or three) smile this year!

  • One year when we (my parent's children) were being naughty for Christmas eve and laughing during the reading of the Christmas Story from the bible - my parents decided to make us be particularly charitable to one very poor family in our neighborhood. We each were instructed to open just one present that night(of our choice), then the remaining gifts we took in our old jeep to "the poor family" in our neighborhood. They were so surprised and I remember being sad, but happy that we were able to make Christmas just that much better for for someone else.

    Of course, the next morning Santa Clause had left us some gifts anyway...he must have known what we did and rewarded us accordingly.

    Brethart77

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