Guest Author - Susan Thompson

The holidays are here. It always amazes me how fast a year can go. This is the first in a series of holiday articles that I will run from now until January.

This time of year is great for teaching your children about giving. I know that most children get the “gimme” syndrome due to the commercialism of the holidays. If your child goes to school or is involved in Scouts, I have no doubt there will be a food drive some where in your future. Your child may be wondering where that food goes. Food banks are run by volunteers and are usually open one or two nights a week. You can contact your township offices to find out how to volunteer with the local food bank.

As a family, there are many things you can do to give back to your community. In almost every bank, discount store, or church there is a “giving tree” where there are ornaments with a child’s age, gender, and a small wish list, along with instructions on where and how to deliver the items you purchase. You can pick as many ornaments as you want and purchase the items on the list. This option requires some money, a little bit of thought, and a small amount of time on your part to do the shopping. One year I was very low on funds, and actually made the ornaments for the tree, that was my contribution for the year.

The residents of your local nursing home love getting visits, especially from children. You can call the office to see what their policy is. Tell them that you are teaching your children about giving. A lot of the residents are on special diets, so they usually don’t allow you to bring food, but you could take a group of children to sing some holiday songs for them or the kids could read a holiday story to them. If you are willing, there are some care facilities that have an, adopt a grandparent program. You visit the person, spend some time with them, bring small gifts, or read to them. For children who don’t have living grandparents, this is a great option.

One place most people don’t normally think about volunteering is animal shelters. Contact your local animal shelter to find out what kind of volunteer services they are in need of. In some cases, they may just need people to walk or play with the animals. If you are short on time, animal shelters are always in need of items for the cats and dogs they house. You could buy some special dog and cat treats and have the kids help you deliver them.

Whatever type of giving project you decide on, I hope you take the opportunity to enjoy your family while you are giving back to your community.

If you holiday ideas or suggestions, please feel free to contact me or post in the forum. I love getting your feedback.