HOLIDAY TRADITIONS | GIVING BACK
You may have noticed special Giving Tree ornaments that express someone’s special needs this season.
Hoping to give back this season? Look for specially decorated Giving Trees, or Angel Trees, which offer us a chance to help other members of our community who may have fallen on hard times during the holidays. Instead of traditional ornaments, the trees have handwritten or printed donation requests. Someone may need something practical like new clothing and shoes for work or school – or something season-specific like a hoped-for toy for a child. You can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life by participating in these worthwhile initiatives, while teaching important life lessons to younger people about compassion and charity.
GETTING INVOLVED
Giving Trees will include information on how and what to donate. If you’d like to give but haven’t come across one of these special trees, contact charitable organizations, homeless shelters, churches and police and fire stations. You may find them in stores and shopping malls, grocery stores and other miscellaneous government buildings. Internet searches and social media may help with pinpointing the exact location and goals for local Giving Trees. Individual organizations may have differing rules about how to deliver the gifts, but they generally prefer that donations be dropped off at a certain location.
GIFT GUIDELINES
Follow the organization’s shared guidelines so that your gift gets to its intended recipient. If possible, note the recipient’s underlying narrative and how your chosen gift would positively affect their life. While you should fulfill their specific request, consider enhancing the gift by providing more than they expect. For example, if a child has expressed a wish for a basic clothing item, perhaps include several outfits or a new pair of shoes to create an element of surprise on Christmas morning.
SHARING THE EXPERIENCE
Create and stick to a budget so you don’t have to rely on high-interest credit to complete your purchase, then bring younger people into the process. Let children take part in the actual donation too, to instill important values.
Participating in these initiatives provides important lessons about giving, gratitude and budget management.
They’ll also be part of the holiday joy that comes from helping others.
