CALL 4 ACTION: Give Back For The Holidays!
The holidays are in full swing. Family and friends are coming to visit and calendars are jam packed with Christmas parties! But have you given any thought about those who are less fortunate? What about those who don’t have family to fellowship with, holiday lights to hang or gifts to exchange? Sometimes we forget that the holidays are not just about receiving. In fact, the true reason for the season is more about GIVING. If you’re ready to get into the real spirit of the holidays, ➬ check out this list of ways to give back this holiday season. Spread the word to your classmates so everyone can get involved. Merry Christmas and Happy Giving!
SHOEBOX GIFTS
- Find a standard-size shoe box with a lid to serve as your packing box. You may also use a small plastic storage container as your packing box, if you like.
- To add excitement for the child who receives your box, wrap the box and the lid separately in festive wrapping paper.
- Decide what age and gender you would like to pack your box for.
- Fill the box full of small toys, personal hygiene items and candy. Avoid toys with war themes, guns, toys that require batteries, and anything that may melt, such as chocolate or lip balm. Here are some examples:
• Pad of paper, journal or small notebook
• Pencils and pencil sharpener
• Jump rope
• Silly putty
• Small ball
• Stuffed animal toy or doll
• Socks
• Hat or visor
• Soap and washcloth
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Small bag of candy: Tootsie Rolls, lollipops, gum, etc.
• Stickers
• Mini Etch-a-Sketch
• Jacks and a ball
• Crayons or markers and small coloring book
• Solar calculator
• Small toy cars
COAT/CAN DRIVE
- Host a holiday can or coat drive
- Encourage your classmates to bring in one canned good or old coat
- Give everyone a deadline and talk to your administration about identifying a reward for the person or class who donates the most
- Contact a local Salvation Army, Red Cross, soup kitchen or church to give the donations to after your drive is complete
ANGEL TREE ADOPTION
- Most major retailers and malls are participants in Angel Tree programs. These programs offer the names of needy children in the hopes that an individual or group of people will ‘adopt’ the child for the holidays. In doing so, that person (or group) vows to provide gifts and holiday treats for that particular child. Angel Trees (often decorated with the names of these needy children) are located in most major malls.
- Encourage your class to adopt an Angel Tree kid and offer them the best Christmas they’ve had by having each classmate bring in one small gift by a certain date.
- Those gifts can be placed into one large basket and delivered to the Angel Tree child, as directed by the program.
This year, the Salvation Army and JC Penney are featuring a special initiative called The Angel Giving Tree Online Program. This program allows customers to adopt an ‘angel’ (a needy child or senior) and then shop for gifts for their ‘angel’ online. Making someone’s Christmas really special is just a click away! To learn more about the program and to adopt an angel yourself, visit their site at http://jcp.com/angel.
HOLIDAY CARDS FOR THE MILITARY
- Contact a local military base or check out websites like www.anysoldier.com to find out where and how you can send care packages and cards
- Encourage your class to create beautiful and unique holiday cards for those working so hard to keep us safe
Want to go all out? Send a video greeting to a solider from your entire school and continue to reach out well after the holidays
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Tags: Call 4 Action, Christmas, Community Service, Giving Back, Holidays, Teens
