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Will You Teach Your Kids To Give Like The Anonymous KMart Donors? (Video)
The Season of Giving.
The time of year when we talk about how important it is to teach our kids to GIVE, not simply focus on receiving. It takes absolutely nothing to make me cry. There are so many stories of need floating around. And it is impossible to help everyone.
But then you will hear about a little slice of heaven like the anonymous donors paying off Kmart layaway accounts for families in need…families just trying to provide holiday gifts for their kids. And my faith in humanity soars. And I tear up as I read it to my small people.
And my gears turn, thinking of new ways to inspire the giving spirit in my small people.
What type of giving, anonymous or otherwise, do you do around the holidays? And do stories like these motivate you to find new ways to reach out to families in need. (and not just during the holidays)
Photo credit: Flickr: www.metaphysicalplatypus.com
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8 Comments
Manjari commented on Dec 17 11 at 6:36 pmThe twins usually each pick out a toy for Toys for Tots. I think giving toys means more to them at age 5 than giving money would. They usually select something they would want themselves, and they are happy to think of kids they’ve never met receiving the gifts.
daniellesmith commented on Dec 17 11 at 6:41 pm@Manjari – my kids are very much the same – they like to be able to picture the person who will receive what they are giving….
the original Sarah commented on Dec 18 11 at 8:23 pmWe always pick out Toys for Tots toys. While in K-mart the other day, my friend saw an elderly man walked up to the manager and asked if he had heard about people paying off others lay-a-ways and stated he wanted to do it there. Only stipulation was that they had to contain toys. That warms my heart so much.
bev commented on Dec 22 11 at 10:16 amMy kids and I do the toys fir tots…I exolained to them there r moms and dads who can’t buy gifts for there kids so we need tioi help..they luv. Pickin out the toy and putting it in the box
Dawn Rose commented on Dec 22 11 at 11:12 amIn Chicago, the Sun-Times does “Letters to Santa” written by kids in shelters, low income homes, DHS, schools, etc. My family requests a couple letters per adult. We get everything the children ask for, wrap as a family, and drop off the presents at the school or shelter (the letter includes where gifts can be sent or dropped off) We never actually meet the kids personally, but just being there and seeing the neighborhood and students really makes us all realize how much more they need it than we do. I also furnish a complete dinner for a needy family. Don’t get me wrong, my family doesn’t have a lot if extra money after payday, but we get by. And it breaks my heart to know that there are so many families in this country that don’t. It may make our budget a little tighter, but a couple weeks of financial discomfort is nothing compared to 365 days of struggle. Giving a family one day of happiness is the least we can do.
Noreen Ryan commented on Dec 22 11 at 11:43 amI explained to my son this year, who is almost 6, that there are parents who can’t afford to buy a gift for their children. That was after he thought it was because the kids were naughty. I then went on to tell him my own experience as a kid and my parents not having the money to buy gifts for my 3 siblings and I. He asked if it made me sad and I told him yes. I think it clicked with him and we bought a toy for toy for tots. My 3 yr old is still too young to understand but she helped me get pjs to give to the battered women’s shelter in town, her school was collecting pjs, etc. for the families currently there.
daniellesmith commented on Dec 22 11 at 1:22 pm@ Sarah – it is amazing to see, isn’t it? It has been happening here in St. Louis as well. Extraordinary. Love that you and @ Bev do Toys for Tots – have always believed that to be such a spectacular program – used to do news stories with them year ago when I was a reporter. The ‘good’ they do and have done for years is a treasure.
daniellesmith commented on Dec 22 11 at 1:25 pm@ Dawn Rose – The fact that you find a way to help – choosing to make your budget a little tighter is even more special in my mind. It is so easy to say ‘I can’t this year’ but the reality is: so many families are doing without entirely – and that breaks my heart. Thank you for being so truly good. Amazing.
@Noreen – how beautiful that you are sharing that giving heart with your children. They will grow up to be kind as you are….
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