Are you more Charitable during the Holidays?
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
November 30, 2009 1:31pm CST
Just a simple question that I've been thinking about. I was brought up to always be charitable to other people, but despite that fact, I find that I am a lot more giving during the holidays.
So, do you find that you are this way as well? What are some of the things that you do for other people during the holidays? Have you ever been the recipient of kindness during the holidays?
For me, one of the things that I always do is to toss some change in the Salvation Army buckets whenever I see them. I try to donate some things that my children don't use anymore to some of the toy drives that they have locally. One of my favorite things to do is to adopt a child for Christmas but we haven't been able to do that this year because we've found ourselves in a tight financial situation.
3 people like this
17 responses
@chulce (1537)
• United States
1 Dec 09
Hi Dorann,
I too find myself giving a bit more over the holiday season. We too are finding it difficult though to go that extra little mile monetarily speaking, however, we have found other ways, not only by donating items we no longer use, but of our time. There are many shelters that could always use a couple extra hands for an hour or two. It really feels good to see when you have helped someone out that day. It just feels good for the soul.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
2 Dec 09
One of the things that I really love to do is go to the local food bank and help them sort out the nonperishable items that they have on stock. My children have been too small to do this in the past, but it is something that I would like to be able to introduce them to next year when they are a bit older.
@invisiblelady (1655)
• Philippines
1 Dec 09
You're such a nice person and mom. I hope that your children will inherit your good values.
As for me, I really believe that most people feel more helpful during Holidays especially i Christmas. It's always like that. And I feel the same way, too. Maybe because we are always reminded of how Jesus was born and gave His life for us and we want to give a part of ourselves too--in our own simple and unique way...
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
I think that you are right. Of course, I don't so much think about it as being a part of the way that Jesus' life was so much as emulating what the wise men did for Jesus just after his birth.
@invisiblelady (1655)
• Philippines
3 Dec 09
Right... I must have thought about that. But really, when you see people exchanging gifts, it feel so good, right? Like at least, once in a while we feel that we are being loved and cared for even if we received cheap gifts, we can still tend to appreciate it. It's the thought that counts anyway...
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
3 Dec 09
I am too. It breaks my heart to hear kids won't have a Christmas or there is a family in need. I would rather help one family though, with whatever I can.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
3 Dec 09
I really wanted to be able to help one family this year, but our financial constraints won't allow us to do that this year. However, I am going to try to start saving money early for 2010 and I am going to talk to the Family Resource Center coordinator at my daughter's school in October of next year to find out about one of the families at the school that need the most help for Christmas and I would like to be able to help them.
My daughter goes to a Title I school and although we are far from rich, sometimes when I see some of the children at her school, I see how truly blessed that we are and I would love to be able to pass just a little bit of our good fortune on to one of the families that is in our community that really needs help.
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
1 Dec 09
I had plans myself to find a child to get presents for but I am in a really tight situation myself but I have many things to be greatful for. I have food for my kids and a nice warm home for them and I as well. I think if someone is in a good postion they really should consider doing something. As for giving money to the Salvation Army I usually do but this year I will not be either. I need every penny I can get to make it through the month but if I am able to share something with anyone I come in contact with I will for sure share. Take care and happy mylotting to you. 
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
I'm sorry to hear that you are in such a tight situation this year. I believe it has been a very difficult year for all of us. That said, I hope that you are able to provide a good and memorable Christmas for your children and that when next year rolls around you will find yourself in a better situation where you will be able to give again.
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
30 Nov 09
Hi Dorann.
While I practice charity year round, like you, it seems to be even more on my mind during the Christmas holiday. I think it is knowing how blessed the holiday is for some; how bleak for others, so we make an added effort to see that everyone has a gift or food for such a special day.
Karen@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
I think part of the reason that it is more on our minds during the Christmas holiday is that charity is everywhere that we look. There is the Salvation Army Kettle Crusade at the grocery stores and here there is the Mountain of Love (food drive) at the mall as well as the Angel Tree there too.
However, I think that giving during this season would be just as important to me at Christmas time whether or not it was out in the open just because of thinking about the wisemen bringing gifts to Jesus.
1 person likes this
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
1 Dec 09
For me, too. I still love to read the whole story in Luke each year around this time, even though the kids are grown. That, and it is sad to be amongst so much warmth and love and know that others have so little. So giving is the true spirit of the holiday. :)
@greatsasuke (472)
• United States
1 Dec 09
I am more giving during the holidays, especially during Christmas. Why Christmas? Because it is Christmas and the whole idea of Christmas is to share, give, and be thankful. I think this year everyone has been feeling the pinch of the financial crisis, but we shouldn't stop giving. We should still give whatever we can, no matter how small. If we can't give money then maybe we can volunteer our services for needy people. Whatever we can do we should to bring an atmosphere of giving, especially during these financially tough times.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
2 Dec 09
I agree with you wholeheartedly. There are so many people right now that are in need and ever little bit that we are able to do is a tremendous help to them. Thank you for sharing.
@anjalisharma_iipm (805)
• India
1 Dec 09
for me i hardly go for charity but yes i do once in a year and i love to do that whenever i do. but it is very dificult to find some one very needy and who can really utilise the thing you do the charity.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
I don't know that I completely agree that it is difficult to find someone that can really utilize the small things that you are able to do with charity, but I do think that even if you only give once a year you are still doing a very good thing.
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
1 Dec 09
Hi Doran,
Yes, I tend to be more generous during the Christmas season. While I give small amounts to charities at anytime of the year(usually organizations/charitable institutions place boxes or cans at the cashier's counters in the dept. store or grocery where anyone feeling generous can just drop any amount), I feel that I should give more during this season. Christmas is about giving, sharing, generosity, love and forgiveness - perhaps these words are enough to explain why we feel this way during the holidays.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
You are certainly right that Christmas is about giving, sharing, and generosity. For me, it is so much more important to give than to receive and that is a big part of the reason that I will give more during the Christmas season. Even though it is not in my personality to give to a begger on the street, a few years ago on Christmas Eve there was a homeless person by the interstate exit when we were going to visit the cemetary and we gave the man five dollars only because it was Christmas.
@checkmail (2039)
• India
1 Dec 09
Hello dorannmwin this is checkmail and often do some charitable stuffs during some of our religious festivals, celebrations.Yeah its an tradition in our country to perform charity on the Holi festival and celebration.In our country there are many such days coming up and at that days many charity are done by all the peoples who cna afford it to do.Me too sometimes spend money over charity and somtimes give away mine things that aren't more useful to me.Mostly clothes, shoes, bags, etc.Even on days like birthday we do donate some cash as well give some foods stuffs to needy peoples.Well the charity thing just can't stop over here in mine country.This pro is due to the huge diff in rich and poor, and only the middle class level survives.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
Hi checkmail. Yes, I agree with you. I think that even though a lot of people don't have the money to donate that they would usually have, they still do have things that aren't useful to them any longer that they will be able to donate to charities. Thanks for sharing your input.
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
1 Dec 09
I think we all tend to show a little more charity during the holidays. The yuletide season seems to bring out our more charitable traits.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
It does seem to bring out more charitable traits in people and for that I know that there are many that are thankful.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
1 Dec 09
I call it the "Christmas spirit". While having more money during Christmas, I intend to be more charitable than in any other months of the year. Its one way of giving back to others what I gained through the entire year of hardwork. It doesn't have to that much but at least I try to give more during Christmas.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
I think that the people that are less fortunate than us are thankful for whatever they receive during the Christmas season, no matter how insiginificant it seems to us.
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
1 Dec 09
I donate to the toys for tots drive as well as the angel tree. I also donate to the Salvation Army. I like the idea of the adopt a child for Christmas. I wish we had this program out here in Idaho because I would definately participate. I understand how you feel money being tight. Money has been tight for my husband and I. I will be going back to school in January so I am hoping that a little financial aid money will help me out.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
As far as donating a child for Christmas, one of the things that you might be able to check into is the local schools where you live. I know at my daughter's school if I were to call and tell them that I wanted to adopt a child from the school to provide with a good Christmas, they would give me a lead on one of the children that needed the most help. If just the local schools won't help you to do something like this, check with any Title I schools that are in your area. The Title I schools tend to have a social worker that works with the school in general and even more with the poorest children.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
Thank you for sharing your input and also for your honesty.
@xumingcheng (20)
• China
1 Dec 09
In my opinion,do some thing good is just like god save you soul.I am a helpful man ,I like helping others ,just like what I say ,do some thing good is just like god save you soul,I want to be the god of myself ,what I have done is helpful,help anyone who are in trouble ,help anyone who need love ,care .....so ,let's do some thing good for ourself ,god will save you .
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
My reason for giving is not so much that I feel it will help me to be saved it is more that I want to pass on some of the blessings that I have in some small way. Thank you very much for your input.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
30 Nov 09
Yes, circumstances cause me to be more charitable during the holidays. Shortly before Thanksgiving word spread around our small town that one of the churches was short on food for their Thanksgiving baskets for the needy. I ran into someone at the grocery store who told me so, even though I don't belong to this church, I bought some extra items and dropped them off on my way home. The lady there told me that the news spreads quickly in our town and that they were in good shape now. There are also groups collecting money for the needy outside of the grocery store most days and at our two gas stations so I always donate. I haven't been to Walmart yet so I haven't seen the Salvation Army folks but I give to them, too.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
It is great to hear that the word of being short on food spread so quickly throughout your community and that there were so many people that were quick to help out the situation.
@benny128 (3615)
•
30 Nov 09
to be honest don't slate me for it
but I don't tend to give whether its christmas or anyother time of the year.
I am a single dad of 3 and to be honest the well being of my family is my most important factor.
I occasionally give to charity boxes but what gets me is one of our local charities the chief execs are on over £40,000 a year.
So once charities give all the money they make to good causes not to high flying chief execs then I will prob just look after my family.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
I'm not going to rib you about the fact that you don't tend to give. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate that you need to take care of first. Taking care of your children is a very important thing and that should be your priority.
@paleorainy (630)
• Italy
30 Nov 09
Last year I made a donation through Heifer international, I like how they put it, they have a catalogue of things you can buy and will be donated to the poor. I remember I bought 10 duckings. But there's cows, farming equipments, vaccinations, seeds.
I am just very sorry that this year I cannot donate anything, but anyways I'll look into that and I'll try to save up something to give. I still think that saving up a few dollars to give them away will take you much much luck in future.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Dec 09
This year I know that there are a lot of charities that are not able to raise as much money in the past and there are families that are going to be hurting because of this. However, if the people that tend to give still give as much as they can, I believe Christmas will still be made brighter for a lot of people.
