5 Ideas To Help You Give Back This Christmas

I strongly believe that everyone wants to do good in the world; to leave their mark that people will remember; to make an impact that is larger than themselves.  This is one reason why I am huge fan when churches participate in The Advent Conspiracy.  Advent Conspiracy encourages church attenders to buy a little less, and give a little more. The money that is saved from buying less gifts is then given to projects domestically and internationally.  It is a great way for churches to really celebrate the Christmas season.

I know for some churches/Christians doing a campaign like this might not be their cup of tea, but there are several ways that you can give back during the Christmas season. But first, make sure that you are giving back for the right reasons and doing so with the right approach.  (Yesterday I posted about lessons I have learned from giving back and helping people in need.  Click here to read it.)

1. Get involved with a local church. Find out if your local church is doing any kind of special Christmas outreach/service projects.  Our church does a campaign every year called “Give Your Christmas Away.” We choose a different kind of project each year, but it encourages our members to think about others during the Christmas season.
2. Find a soup kitchen or food pantry. As the weather gets colder and holidays get closer, volunteering at a soup kitchen or food pantry is a simple and fun way to make an impact in someone’s life. If you are able, be there when they serve a hot meal or pass out groceries.
3. Contact your local school districts counselors. Many families each year can go unnoticed by their communities. School counselors often are in contact with families that could use a little support and blessing during the holiday season.  Try adopting a family in your community with your family this year or host a local coat drive for children that don’t have adequate winter clothing.
4. Volunteer your time visiting patients at a hospital or nursing home. Many elderly people don’t have family who will or can come and visit them during the holidays. Try taking your family to eat your Christmas dinner at a nursing home. Or find a way to get involved with your local Ronald McDonald House. They always have families and patients who could use some extra Christmas love during the holidays!
5. Collect gifts for the homeless. Chances are you have seen a homeless person at least once in your life.  Contact some of your local homeless shelters and ask how you can help the homeless this year at Christmas. A few shelters even have ways to adopt families or children or give gifts that provide food, shelter, coats, and sometimes even ways to help get families back on the right track.

These are just a few suggestions and resources that I have found that may help you give back this year at Christmas. This list is not anywhere close to be inclusive, so if you have other ideas, I’d love to hear them. Let’s start to recapture the real meaning of Christmas. All it takes is one person at a time to start reflecting God’s love for others one gift at time.

How do you plan to give back this Christmas? I would love to hear any stories from you giving back.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

5 Lessons From Working With People In Need

Every year at Legacy Christian Church, we have a special project in December.  We call it, “Give Your Christmas Away.”  The Christmas season has come to represent something so different from the real reason why celebrate each year.  It is not about buying gifts and maxing out credit cards.  It is about celebrating God sending his son, Jesus, to be the savior of the world.  God gave us the best gift ever and because of that we encourage people to give a little extra on someone else–to give part of their Christmas away.

In 2011 we partnered with an inner city charter school and provided over 140 articles of winter clothing to children who were going without.  This year we are partnering with our school district to provide 4 families a Christmas.  These families are so thankful that someone would take notice, and care for them and their children.  And through my conversations with these families, I have learned a few things.

1. Take time and listen to their story. People are willing to tell their story, they just need someone to listen.
2. People are never a project.  Everyone deserves to be shown respect. No one likes to think of themselves as charity.
3. Always use words carefully. Think through what you are going to say and how you will respond.
4. Be compassionate and have empathy. Don’t act like you know what someone is going through unless you actually have lived it too. You don’t have to have in been in their situation to show compassion or to put yourself in their shoes.
5. Let your conversations and decisions always reflect God’s love. No matter what situation someone is in, our discussions with them should always reflect God’s love for them–a perfect, understanding, gracious love.

I hope that during this holiday season or any season, that when you encounter someone who is truly in need that you will remember these 5 lessons that I’ve learned from working with people in need.

What would you add to the list? Anything else we should remember when helping other people in need?

Picture courtesy of Creative Commons