by Elsa Dean
It’s that most wonderful time of the year…when we are thrust into holiday madness and all of the giving that goes along with the season. Regardless of your religious beliefs, or non-religious beliefs, you can’t deny the frenzy in the air at this time of year. While I love the smell of freshly baked holiday cookies and sitting by a fire with friends and family as much as the next guy… I find myself looking for ways to carry out the spirit of the season in a way that is more sustainable, less commercial and much more heartfelt. As the mother of a young son, I want to model the best of what this season offers by sharing my gifts with those less fortunate and building up communities locally and globally. While I love this time of year, I often find myself wondering why the good vibes of the season can’t be extended throughout the entire year.
One method that I used last year with my own family was to give donations in their names, as opposed to purchasing more (sometimes needless) gifts. Not only did this make me feel better about giving something with meaning to someone I care about, it also provided a way to help someone I may likely never meet, but who would benefit greatly from this donation. When posed with the question of what to give someone who really doesn’t need anything more (my parents and in-laws, in my case) the notion of providing them with a link to someone in need proved far more fulfilling than another box of chocolate. Everyone was happy.
Last year I chose to donate to Heifer International (Heifer.org) because of their mission: to provide the means, in this case livestock, to a needy family who then uses that animal to provide income for the family. Their goals are ambitious; to end world hunger, emphasize community involvement as it relates to global relief, building a sustainable chain of giving, teach sustainable agricultural production methods to recipients provide and teach humane care of the animals and establish programs for long-term disaster rehabilitation projects. The premise that one gift can become part of a cycle that gives so much in so many ways embodies that spirit of this season and makes it a life-long gift for all involved.
For a more local version, you might consider Hopelink (www.hope-link.org) which is a local organization that serves to promote self-sufficiency for all members of our community via emergency services, food banks, emergency family shelters, family development programs and adult education. The goal is always to provide the assistance needed for the family to become self-sufficient.
I love this season for the ways in which it makes people more open to giving and sharing. My wish is that more of us consider how we can provide a different outlook on this season of giving and be stewards of our global community now and for years to come.