For the last few years the Peck side of my family has done a gift exchange in lieu of purchasing individuals gifts for every family member. This year my father-in-law, Ty (or Granddad as the kids call him), suggested we nix the gifts and donate to help those less fortunate. Sounded great to us. We already have a few traditions that we do each year around the holidays.
First, we always make a donation to the Denver Rescue Mission for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's a great organization that assists the homeless and provides a good meal for them on the holidays. They actually provide food year round, but the holidays are always a bigger meal. Second, we also make a donation to St.Jude's. Children going through chemo and fighting cancer really pulls my heart strings. Third, Miah and I always go to the local mall and pick a gift wish off the Christmas tree there. This year we bought shoes and socks for a 15 year old girl. Miah always enjoys wrapping the gift knowing how much it will mean to the recipient. She loves giving!
As far as the donation in lieu of the Peck family gift, we have not done that yet. Miah and I discussed it and we decided that since so many people give over the holidays it would be better to wait until January to do our donation. We plan to go to the store and purchase canned goods, toiletries and other items that have a long shelf life, and then bring them to the Sister Carmen Center near our home. I also have accumulated many hotel shampoos and lotions from my travels over the past year that we are going to donate. It was a great idea that someone passed along to me, and it was something I hadn't thought before, but was simple to do. I pass the idea on to you: next time you are traveling and staying at a hotel, take the toiletry items they leave for you. Then donate those items to a homeless shelter near you. If you are staying for several days be sure and take the ones they leave out before they clean the room! Normally they will leave more! There are many people who can use those small items much more than you!
The point here is that our economy continues to head toward a place of struggle for many people. And small gestures can make a big difference. They don't need to be monetary. Donating your time can be more rewarding than writing a check, and I can't think of any organization that would turn away a volunteer. Or you could personalize it more by making dinner for a struggling family. Or offer to baby-sit the single Mom's kids from down the street for no charge. Or give your blood - literally!!
There are so many things we can all do to make a positive impact on other people's lives and our community. I believe everyone feels a warm, fuzzy feeling when they are the reason for another person's smile, and I hope we all harness that fuzziness and use it when and where we can.
Here's to 2009!
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