Don't hate me cuz I hate Christmas...
Yeah, I get to hate Christmas sometimes. I work at the mall, and the whole consumerism of it all just gets overwhelming. Not to mention the long lines, crowds, and overplayed, over done and just plain played out Christmas songs and movies and those annoying dancing singing toys. I want Christmas to mean something, more than just the hype, more than just fancy wrapped presents, more than just giving because its expected. I know I am guilty of falling into this trap too, but I want it to be different.
Soo..... I have come up with a few little suggestions to get all of us scrooges to work for the benefit of others and the sheer pleasure of helping someone else out.
Samaritans Purse is a good place to start, they head the Operation Christmas Child program, that sends shoeboxes full of gifts all over the world every Christmas, My friend Rosie had the privilege of going to South America to help distribute these boxes. They also have various disaster relief and medical programs that help out all over the world.
Another great place to check out is World Vision The do work in sponsoring children all over the world and their families to live better lives. Their Hope Project deals with areas and people directly impacted by the AIDS/HIV pandemic. If you check out the link above you can also see their gift catalogue where they put together gifts that you can buy for sponsor families, the stuff is really cool, like goats and chickens, and sending kids to school for a year. This also is the place where you can find out about 30 hour famine, and how to raise money for people all over the world that don't have enough money to have something to eat.
There is also World Relief . They do all kinds of things like starting community banks, refugee, disaster, and agricultural programs. The combine your donations with grants, goods and services donated by churches, governments, foundations, and international organizations that make your money count!
Relevant Magazine has an area devoted to helping people all over the world and getting people involved, its called The Revolution and the link should take you to the page that lists all the agencies that they work with.
This is just a start for those of you out there that think Christmas should be different. For local stuff I would check out your local thrift shops (often these are in place to support a charity or relief organization, look in your phone book about food banks, and shelters that need volunteers or donations. If there is nothing in your phone book, try Google.
And my personal favorite, are my missionary friends, you can check out what's happening with them and more info at Kevin's blog.
Soo..... I have come up with a few little suggestions to get all of us scrooges to work for the benefit of others and the sheer pleasure of helping someone else out.
Samaritans Purse is a good place to start, they head the Operation Christmas Child program, that sends shoeboxes full of gifts all over the world every Christmas, My friend Rosie had the privilege of going to South America to help distribute these boxes. They also have various disaster relief and medical programs that help out all over the world.
Another great place to check out is World Vision The do work in sponsoring children all over the world and their families to live better lives. Their Hope Project deals with areas and people directly impacted by the AIDS/HIV pandemic. If you check out the link above you can also see their gift catalogue where they put together gifts that you can buy for sponsor families, the stuff is really cool, like goats and chickens, and sending kids to school for a year. This also is the place where you can find out about 30 hour famine, and how to raise money for people all over the world that don't have enough money to have something to eat.
There is also World Relief . They do all kinds of things like starting community banks, refugee, disaster, and agricultural programs. The combine your donations with grants, goods and services donated by churches, governments, foundations, and international organizations that make your money count!
Relevant Magazine has an area devoted to helping people all over the world and getting people involved, its called The Revolution and the link should take you to the page that lists all the agencies that they work with.
This is just a start for those of you out there that think Christmas should be different. For local stuff I would check out your local thrift shops (often these are in place to support a charity or relief organization, look in your phone book about food banks, and shelters that need volunteers or donations. If there is nothing in your phone book, try Google.
And my personal favorite, are my missionary friends, you can check out what's happening with them and more info at Kevin's blog.
posted by becka at 4:52 PM
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