LittleDudesMom
Well-Known Member
I think we were all warmed by the generousity of the folks who helped provide the gifts and food to mattsmom's family. We were also touched by how much it meant to be the recipiant of such generosity and care.
I wanted to give you the other side.
For the past seven years I had my middle school (for three years) and then high school (for 4) Sunday school class begin raising money as soon as school started in the fall. In early December we would be given the name of a family from our local city school office (who worked with the dept of soc serv) who had fallen on hard times or who needed help.
We would pick a Sat in early December, meet early in the am with the list of "wishes/needs" from the family and lay out our gameplan. Many of the families at church would make donations to "my kids" and the kids themselves supplied funds from their allowance and then some of their paychecks as they got older and started working.
The joy they had in picking out household items for the family and gifts for children's wish list was overwhelming. They would approach store managers for discounts so they could afford better sneakers or a nicer blanket. It was incredibly humbling to see these teens, who often get labeled self serving, get so excited to do for others. They wrapped and laughed and looked forward to this community service project every year.
The family never knew who provided their Christmas, but that never mattered to these kids. The knew they had helped a family in need. They gave unselfishly of themselves.
As wonderful as it feels to be the recipiant of such generosity, it is also just as heartwarming to be the generator. Without getting deep into the perilous topic of religion, this project always served to keep, what I believed to be the true meaning of Christmas, alive for me - sharing the ultimate gift of love without getting anything yourself.
Sharon
I wanted to give you the other side.
For the past seven years I had my middle school (for three years) and then high school (for 4) Sunday school class begin raising money as soon as school started in the fall. In early December we would be given the name of a family from our local city school office (who worked with the dept of soc serv) who had fallen on hard times or who needed help.
We would pick a Sat in early December, meet early in the am with the list of "wishes/needs" from the family and lay out our gameplan. Many of the families at church would make donations to "my kids" and the kids themselves supplied funds from their allowance and then some of their paychecks as they got older and started working.
The joy they had in picking out household items for the family and gifts for children's wish list was overwhelming. They would approach store managers for discounts so they could afford better sneakers or a nicer blanket. It was incredibly humbling to see these teens, who often get labeled self serving, get so excited to do for others. They wrapped and laughed and looked forward to this community service project every year.
The family never knew who provided their Christmas, but that never mattered to these kids. The knew they had helped a family in need. They gave unselfishly of themselves.
As wonderful as it feels to be the recipiant of such generosity, it is also just as heartwarming to be the generator. Without getting deep into the perilous topic of religion, this project always served to keep, what I believed to be the true meaning of Christmas, alive for me - sharing the ultimate gift of love without getting anything yourself.
Sharon