Before you do your online holiday shopping consider this: if you go to Goodshop.com you can shop online and the site will make a donation (sometimes as much as 30% of your purchases) to the charity of your choice. It doesn't cost you anything more. It is a painless way to do something good. The donations come out of the profits generated by the site from the advertisers.
Now they have expanded the concept to include a penny every time you use their search engine, Goodsearch.com. You choose the charity. I think everyone should get on board. It's a win-win and so easy.
In the same vein, I wanted to mention the secret charity exchange idea that I came up with last year. When your family gathers for the holidays this year, why not draw names for a gift exchange? Here is how it works: each person entering the exchange writes down his/her name, his/her choice of a charitable organization, and a weblink or phone number for that charity. Then everyone draws a name. Over the next year you will do something for the charity of the person whose name you drew. It can be as simple as a monetary donation or participating in an event. You can do as much as your time/wallet allows. You can be creative in your fundraising efforts, especially if the charity chosen is not in the area you live. When your family gathers for the holidays next year you will each reveal whose name you drew, what the charity was and what you did to help. You can also tell what you learned about the charity and the work they do. You might want to develop a few key questions for everyone to ask of the charities they are working for, such as what is the main focus of the charity, what percent of the donations go directly to services or research, etc. The result of this exchange is that you have a year to do something to honor the person whose name you chose, you learn something about the charity you worked for, and perhaps you will gain some insight into what is important to the person you chose, all while keeping the true spirit of the season.
Happy Holidays!
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2 comments:
Really great ideas. So are we going to do this for next year instead of gifts then? I think it'd be great!
I think it would be great too. We always stress too much about gifts anyway. Of course, we will still get gifts for the kiddos. Why don't we draw names when Andrea is there on Christmas day. Start thinking about your charity choice now.
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