How Do You Define Need?

[Kyra]

Book ideas would be those small paperback stories that you can get for $2-$3. They're usually only about 10 pages long, but they always have such great meanings and are great at bringing in the Christmas spirit.

And I agree about the homemade treats. If you don't know where they came from it's hard to know if they came from a clean house or not (among other worries.) There are certain people in my ward who bring treats to us every year that I have to throw away because I know that they're homes are so filthy. I always appreciate the thought and time put into them though.

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by StrawberryFields

I love the idea of homemade treats but I guess I must be paranoid but I am not sure I would let my family have something homemade if I didn't know the giver....

Am I paranoid about this?

Thanks keep the suggestions coming .

No you're not paranoid. If these packages are going to be anonymous, the treats should not be homemade.

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by StrawberryFields

A book that can bring in the spirit of Christmas.

Okay, I'll be thinking.

[SisterofJared]

No, you're not paranoid, Strawberry.

The homemade treats idea is for people you know.... It's kinda like the Halloween Boo that people do, generally you know it's from people in your ward.

I was also thinking that one good idea might be to give some gift cards, like Wal-Mart cards and do it early enough that the people could actually use them to do some Christmas shopping. I know when we were at our poorest, we always had people give to us, but we still hungered to buy something for our kids ourselves. And my sister would send money to my kids each year, and they always used it to buy each other presents. Being able to pick out a present for someone you love is a huge blessing, and most people would rather give than receive. We would take the kids to McFrugles... I don't know if they exist anymore, but with $5 the kids could buy enough presents to get one for everyone in our family and their cousins. LOL. 27 cent chapsticks or 50 bracelets... it was all cheap stuff, but they just wanted to give to each other.

[Wingnut]

Books I've thought of:

Amazon.com: The Gift of the Magi: O. Henry, Lisbeth Zwerger: Books

Amazon.com: A Christmas Dress For Ellen: Thomas S. Monson: Books

Amazon.com: The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale: Angela Elwell Hunt, Tim Jonke (Illustrator): Books

Amazon.com: The Christmas Shoes: Donna Vanliere: Books (This has been made into a song, and even now a movie starring Rob Lowe and Neal Patrick Harris, called The Christmas Blessing. I haven't seen the movie yet, but the song often brings people to tears the first time they hear it...it's a very powerful story.)

Hope this helps.

[WANDERER]

In Oz we have the Lions Club (a kind of community association that does lots of nice things for people) and they make a Xmas cake as a fund raiser for the various things they do. The thing is...it's a nice gift to receive because even if you're not doing so well you know that this gift is giving to others as well.

If you're giving a gift to someone who is in need and doing it tough...they don't have much to share or gift others with and so when you do have it, you share it...they'll most likely package up some of it and pass it on. So...wrap something up in clear cellophane so they can see what it is, with ribbons and a blank notecard...and throw it in the parcel (we always gave some of it away...we always knew someone in more need than we were or someone we desperately wanted to thank even in a little way and because we hadn't expected it hadn't something to give in return with the budget so tight..and we recyled the ribbon and paper...). I hope that doesn't sound awful...but there's a feeling that it isn't Christmas when you can't give a bit of the Christmas spirit to others and it's always important to bless others when you are blessed...so we thought.

[Gwen]

on a side note, not that i think you would ever do this, make sure you use proper discretion and wording for what you are doing.

i know someone that when she was little she was very poor but she didn't realize it. she went to church and they were collecting food and money for "the needy". when school or church did this kind of thing her dad always looked for something they could give, a penny, potato, something to add for the "less fortunate". one yr the church brought them the food basket. and they did need it but being a child she didn't understand, she kept thinking "but we aren't poor". it changed how she saw herself and her world; it wasn't for the better.

if you are gathering things for "anonymous gifts" then that's cool, anyone could be the recipient. if you are collecting for the "poor or needy" make sure the kids don't know you were there.

just thought i'd throw that out there.

[Hemidakota]

We used to find families who were struggling with buying groceries and cannot afford a simple tree with trimmings. Something to brightened the holidays. All of which was left on the door step and was unknown who did it.

[DeborahC]

gloves, hats, oranges, old fashioned ribbon candy, gingerbread men, a small christmas tree, a DVD of Christmas carols sung by the MTC, a TURKEY and fixings so they can have a nice dinner???

One year my family was down and the church gave us a frozen turkey, potatoes, yams, green beans, cranberry sauce, and rolls.
If it hadn't been for that, we would not have been able to afford Christmas dinner.
It was the best thing they could have done for us!

[countrygirl66]

Originally Posted by StrawberryFields

This year my hubby and I are in charge of our wards Sub For Santa that is where we will sponsor a few families for Christmas. Our ward has collected a pretty healthy fund and I feel a huge obligation to give to the most needy people and those who would go with out if we did not help them. In a year where the economy has hit so many hard I am finding it difficult to decide which way to go. Do we go with people who are in jeopardy of losing homes and may lose them even with our help for Christmas? Do we help the people who have nothing to begin with?

We have visited on this with our bishop and there are a few private needs in the ward that he will take care of which I think is wonderful but the rest is up to us.

How do you give to the needy?

I have a couple of thoughts. My mom used to make boxes with a few groceries to take to the elderly widowed sisters in our ward growing up. (if you have someone like that on your list) We would take the box to the door and then come in an visit for about an hour. I can testify that the sharing of our time to visit with them meant more than the food. I remember one sister especially. (she had very little and was about 85) We sat in her little kitchen and I remember her putting an extra peice of wood in her cook stove because I was there. She gave me sugar cubes and I watched my mother laugh and visit with her. (so don't run away if it is someone lonely) (IMO)

As for what to put in the boxes. The church has a christmas video that is free and maybe some other things. Also maybe talk to the primary about recording the children singing songs of Christmas. You can burn a whole bunch of cd from this for really cheap.

We don't have as much to donate this year so we are doing the following.

I am letting the kids pick some things out of the food storage to make a couple of baskets. Then we are going to use some of our Christmas decorations we already have to decorate them. If they are going where kids are I am taking something out of our Christmas gifts we have already and put in there.

Good luck. Also a lot of grocery stores (if you decide to do grocery store gift cards) will give you a discount if you talk to the manager or they can tell you where to get one.

As far as books (ask around your ward, I know I have several that look like new that I have read and just sit here)

It is a huge responsibility to be entrusted with such sacred funds. It sounds like you have a lot of families in need. Pray and you will know what will be best for each family. (it can be a difficult time of year) My kids are having a second hand christmas this year, it is really interesting all the little projects going on in the house. Take care and good luck.