How to Help a Family in Need Celebrate Christmas

Take time this year to remember what the holiday season is all about. Help a family less fortunate than yours and discover the joy that comes from giving.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Christmas Gifts
• Coats
• Christmas Tree Ornaments
• Christmas Trees
• Blankets
• Canned Vegetables
• Turkeys
• Blankets

1. Check with your church, temple or local civic groups like the Knights of Columbus, Elks or Lions Club to find families in need.

2. Prepare a gift basket with traditional foods, such as turkey, ham, stuffing, canned vegetables and soup so a family can have a holiday meal.

3. Donate canned goods and other foods to an organization that is collecting items from the community to give to families.

4. Buy gifts for the children who otherwise might not receive any. Remember not to give used toys as a holiday gift, since all children like to open something new.

5. Check with civic groups to find a holiday exchange program, in which you invite a family to come to your home and participate in your holiday festivities.

6. Collect warm blankets, coats, boots and other clothing that a family may need.

7. Buy necessities such as diapers, soap, cereal, shampoo and other things to offer to the family.

8. Contribute money to pay the electricity or heating bills for a month.

9. Buy a Christmas tree and ornaments for the family to help make their home more festive.

Tips & Warnings

• Single parents, in particular, may need some extra help. Check with religious organizations, shelters that house families and also youth programs like Big Brother/Big Sister to find out if there is a way you can help

[Hope4all]

on 12/9/2008 Does anyone know how to seek toys and help this Christmas season. There is plenty of info on how and where to donate but not on how to reach out for it.
-Blessings to all

[hershy]

on 12/8/2008 hi
im looking ofr help for the holidys in lawrence ks. My family and i have been homeless gor a year I have 2 biy's 18 21 we are lucky 3 of us are workingmy husband and i and the 21 we are staying in a hotel. We got an apartment finally and are moving into it on dec 19 it is taking all of our money to pay the rent and the rent a t the hotel. Our credit is bad so it was hard to firnd someone in a college town to take us I need help with food i would llike to cook a ham or turkey in a kithchen that i havent had in a year. [e-mail] god bless you

[hershy]

on 12/8/2008 hi,
im looking for help in lawrence ks. My family and i hace been living in a hotel we ar e lucky that my kids are 21, 18 and three of us are working. We finally got an apartment it's been hard because of our bad credit. we are moving in aon thedec. 19 but it is taking all of our money to get in the door and to pay the rent at the hotel. Im looking for help just with food I would like to be able to cook a ham or turkey in a kitchen that i haven't had for almost a year. [e-mail] food pantries are very low this year god bless you

[danacarrico]

on 11/30/2008 HI,MY NAME IS DANA I AM ASINGLE MOTHER OF THREE VERY LOVING KIDS.WE RECENTLY FELL ON HARD TIMES AND MY FIANCE[A WONDERFUL MAN} WAS INCARCERATED FOR HAVING TWO SUBOXEN LOCKED UP IN A LOCK BOX TO EVENTUALLY DETOX HIS OWN SELF OFF OF HIS PAIN MEDS. THAT,HE WAS PERSCIBED DUE TO A BACK INJURY THAT LEFT HIM WITH TITANIUM RODS IN HIS LOWER BACK AND STILL TWO BULGING DISC.NONE THE LESS HE STILL WAS NOT PAINFREE.SO, AS THIS HOLIDAY APPROCHES MY CHILDREN AND I,WILL BE THANKFUL FOR OUR FREEDOM,BUTMISSING THIER"DADDY", HE WANT BE HERE TO SEE TO IT THAT THEY WAKE UP CHRISTMAS MORNING WITH "BIG SMILES" ON THIER FACES AS HE HAS THE PAST TWO YEARS.WE WILL BE PRAYING THAT THE RIGHT PERSON READS THIS AND ANSWER ALL OF "MY PRAYER",THIS IS ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS,IS TO SEE MY KIDS SMILING AND CRYING,BUT NOT TEARS OF SADNESS ,BUT TEARS OF GLADNESS.SO,TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS I ASK FOR PRAYER THAT DANA AND

[Anon2203]

on 11/29/2008 I would try toys for tots, angel tree and local churches in your area. Call or stop in and ask if they do gift handout for needy children.

There are so many of us in your same exact position, we have not had a christmas since 2004 when the hurricanes took everything from us but we still carry on. There are more important things than material gifts, we also have children and they do understand and help make the holidays happy even when we do not have money or a holiday meal.

Instead of focusing on the things you do not have, focus on those things you do have and make those the showcase of your holiday season. Do you have a roof over your heads, food int he fridge or cupboards? Do you have clothes, able to buy school supplies etc?? Do you have a vehicle or internet, cell phones etc?? Think of those things you do have and remember many of us do not have those luxuries.