~Winston Churchill~
This time of year my mail box is overflowing with request to give money to so many wonderful charities. The only thing that truly bothers me about being poor is not being able to just write a check to each one. But December is not a month that finds our coffers very full, what with taxes, heating and this year extra health cost, we are probably the ones in need of charity. Ha! But I still like to do something. So here's some ways to give charity when your pockets are empty:
Invite a lonely person to dinner.
Babysit for that harried mom, free of charge, of course.
Get a group together and sing Christmas carols at your local senior housing.
Shovel your elderly neighbor's driveway.
Knit or crochet for a charity. (The Girl Scouts have a Mitten Tree around here)
Volunteer to work in a soup kitchen.
Volunteer to take the holiday shift at work so others can be home.
Offer to drive someone that cannot to church or to the store.
Donate your used things to charities such as the Salvation Army.
If you have a special skill, offer to teach it for free.
In other words, just being aware of others' needs and trying to find a way to help. Even small things like being cheerful and smiling instead of scowling go a long way toward spreading goodwill.
Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
~Hamilton Wright Mabie~
Wonderful quote Jane, and I agree with all your suggestions .Down here, so many are needing help, basics, and to give from your heart and hands is the best we can do.
ReplyDeleteHello Jean! We do the best with what we have and that is all that we can do. Hope you are having a wonderful day!
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Jane
Great list Jane! There is also a huge need for volunteers at Food Banks and to deliver food to shut ins. So many of our volunteers cannot make it in to help at our local food giveaway this time of year due to weather, illness (this flu season here) or other commitments.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, Debbie! It's just a matter of finding a need and filling it, isn't it? Hope you are feeling better!
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Jane
Such great ideas -Our time sometimes is the greatest gift of all!
ReplyDeleteIt truly is, Vickie!
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Jane
Very nice, Jane! It does get overwhelming at this time of the year with donation requests! And you are right about all the extra bills that come personally. Your suggestions really do help the needy the most, especially with helping neighbors and the elderly. Sometimes need is not dollars and cents! Hugs, Andrea
ReplyDeleteI know Andrea! We sometimes forget that we have value beside what we can contribute monetarily. Sometimes the greatest needs cannot be met with money.
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Jane
Love the quote by Winston Churchill. And I think being available to help when needed is much better sometimes. Besides, where are all the donated dollars going, anyway? Sadly, we've learned the hard way to trust only where trust is warranted when donating. One year Goodman stopped by a table set up to receive donations to support the local children's home. He wrote a check and handed it to the lady only to hear, "Thank you, Sir! Without all these donations we wouldn't be getting a Christmas bonus this year. Needless to say, that's not where he thought it would be going...
ReplyDeleteI Know Toni! Some of the charities are horrible. I once was going to give to a certain charity until I discovered that the chairman of the board took home a one-million dollar salary. Now days if someone needs something, I just give directly to that person. Or buy them a bag of groceries, a coat etc.
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Jane
I love the quote and your suggestions. Sometimes I think that I don't have much to offer, but you have given me some ideas. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI have a bunch of stuff upstairs that I was going to donate to Goodwill, but I think I will take it to the Salvation Army instead.
I'm partial to the Salvation Army, Kathy, because one Christmas when my sister had just been abandoned by her husband the SA brought a big box of food and toys for her little one. I never forgot it. I also like that they not only give aid but also hope. I always put money in the bell ringer's pot and find a way to scrape together some money for a decent donation. They have my heart.
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Jane
That is a great list Jane. I would add finding out which organisations in your community are holding Christmas lunch/dinner for those people who have no one to spend Christmas with at home. There are many widows and widowers with no family and just being able to pass on this information would mean a lot to some of them.
ReplyDeleteYes, nothing's sadder than to have to spend Christmas alone. My husband's been practicing Christmas carols on his guitar to play at our local senior's housing. I'm sure there's many out there with similar talents that could do the same.
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Jane
Great ideas.
ReplyDeleteThanks Barbara!
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Jane
Dear Jane,
ReplyDeleteI sympathize with the yearly desire to give, but without much money. We love going to the nursing homes and singing for the residents, and just going around and giving them hugs.
Love,
Marqueta
p.s. Thanks for the compliment about the writing! We both should write a book, then we could swap! :)
Hello dear Marqueta! I went to the store specifically to look for your article. I must say I was very impressed. Congratulations on a job well done! You're the closest I will ever come to knowing an authoress, I'm very glad for you.
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Jane