Give a Gift of Giving this Christmas
More Social Issues Articles
The Garage: A Man's Best Friend
If a woman's place is in the kitchen, what is the man's place in the home? If a woman loves to work with her hands and create beautiful meals for her family, where does a man like to work and keep busy? For some men, it is the home office, but for most men, their place is in the garage. A garage is a man's treasure house.
Stop the Seduction Factor: Thinking and Time Alone is Good for the Soul
Copyright 2006 Cynthia Bull Is it possible to be seduced by society? Yes! In fact, many of us have a vague sense of being mentally seduced, but with no idea of how it happened. All we know is that we're flooded with information, feel a loss of control, and have no time to think about anything anymore.
Teen Drug Addictions Part 1
Teen Drug Addictions Teen drug Addictions are on the rise and one of the most enabling factors is the denial of both parents and the school systems. A problem with addiction is readily tolerated in the inner cities as a byproduct of challenging living conditions. Move out to the suburbs and it's hard to get the parents and schools systems to admit there is a problem at all and therefore everyone looks the other way.
Teen Drug Addictions Part 2
Teen drug addictions are on the rise and as parents it's important to take our heads out of the sand and look at the problem with eyes wide open. The reason that this is so crucial is that teen drug addictions are not going to disappear. As a parent I understand how difficult it can be when we even suspect that this young person we love may be addicted to drugs.
Music: An International Language
I want to give you a challenge. Find me a country that does not have music of some kind. Search anywhere you like. Explore the jungles of South America, make your way through African tribes, or discover the peoples of South Asia. No matter where you visit I guarentee you this: every country will, without doubt, have some form of music.
Why are single Christians turning to the World?
Non-Christians are going to wonder why I seem to be putting you down in this article but the truth is that I'm writing this for committed Christians not those who have nothing to do with God or the Church. So we are going to ask the question "why are single Christians increasingly turning to non-Christians to seek relationships?" We are also going to deal with what the consequences are for the Christians themselves and also for the wider Church.
Has Generosity Turned To Guilt?
More than ever nowadays, we seem to hear about some charity or some good cause and are urged to give it our support but has the World really become a more generous place or is everybody just feeling more guilty? It's impossible to read a newspaper or magazine nowadays without seeing an advert for a charity that's after your support.
Give a Gift of Giving this Christmas
Deciding what to give a child at Christmas time can be a daunting exercise - the variety of choices is overwhelming. It becomes an issue of what to give them that they will enjoy past the excitement of tearing open the paper and breaking the seal on the box.
Even more challenging is deciding what to give the older folk, but for a completely opposite reason.
What do you give someone who has everything? I'll bet you Aunt Sophie still has the handkerchiefs / au de toilet / chocolates you gave her last year, stashed at the back of a drawer somewhere and she doesn't even remember where she put them.
Dad probably has a collection of golf balls that if let loose, could cause an avalanche of note. He's probably got enough socks to last him to his grave and he actually doesn't drink whiskey! (Those bottles from last year and the years before are gathering dust on a shelf somewhere waiting for Uncle George to visit again.)
Mom's on diet, so chocolates won't do. She's also got enough handbags, scarves and smelly stuff to last a lifetime. She's got more vases and picture frames than she can fill and anything bigger just won't fit into the small apartment anymore.
There is a solution to the potential gift-giving problem...
Let's consider for a minute those who aren't getting anything for Christmas this year. In fact, it's not only Christmas they're concerned about - these people struggle to feed and clothe themselves all year round.
Fortunately for them, there are organizations of people who make it their life's goal to take care of the less privileged and improve their lives in various ways. Most of these organizations rely on charity. What better time to benefit from donations than at the greatest time of giving in the year?
So, instead of all the (pardon me) 'useless' and most probably somewhat unappreciated gifts you'll be spending your money on this year, why not put it to good use and purchase a donation to a worthwhile charity on behalf of someone else?
By the way, dad, mom and Aunt Sophie aren't the only ones who could benefit from this generous gift-giving scenario. What about your clients? Every year we are faced with huge outlays for 'gender-less', generic gifts to show our appreciation for their business over the past 12 months. Now I'm not denying we appreciate their business, but how much do they really appreciate our year-end gifts? Our outlay would be far more beneficial as a bulk contribution to a worthy charity on behalf of our clients. We then send each client a small card stating what we have done on their behalf, and depending on the charity we've donated to, they may even receive a personalized letter of thanks from that organization.
Then there's your children's teachers. Think about it. Each teacher has their own family and friends from whom they will no doubt receive gifts. Add to that the multitude of gifts from students and, well... (I've seen many carting home boot loads at Christmas break, resembling one of Santa's helpers!)
I'm sure you can think of more people in your own circle who could benefit from this gift giving idea.
Are you convinced? Great! So here's the Nitty Gritty...
Who?
A good place to start is with the person you are donating on behalf of. Do they have a favorite charity? What are their interests? As you would browse the shops for a 'suitable gift', likewise, select a charity that can 'press an emotional button' for them. Alternatively, are there any charity organizations near to where they stay - within their own community?
If you're giving on behalf of a group of people, I would suggest a more 'global' charity. At this time of year most people focus on the children's charities. However, don't forget the poor communities, the aged and the animals - they also need your help.
How?
To find a charity is very easy. Simply do a search for 'charity organization' plus your area, or search for the type of charity organization you have in mind (aged, children, animals, etc.) and see how many come up. You'll be spoilt for choice.
Alternatively, is a great place to donate because they promote charities world-wide and give 100% of your donation to your selected project. Many of the projects listed there have lasting effects as they work to empower people (a concept close to my heart). They also have the facility for you to send gift cards on behalf of someone - just as I've mentioned above. You won't even need to do that yourself!
What?
What to donate is pretty self-explanatory. Money of course can be used by the receiving organization as they see fit. However, there are organizations that require specific items and in most of these cases it's easy to find out from them what's on their 'wish list'. In this case you could purchase the item on behalf of the person you're donating from.
How Much?
The amount you donate is entirely up to you. If it's your $10 pocket money, or your $10,000 corporate gift spend, anything is welcome and you know it will be put to good use. (For example, did you know that as little as $10 can start someone up in business and just $37 will provide food, shelter and education for an orphan for a whole month? Wow.)
In Conclusion
The strange thing about this 'gift of giving' concept is that the number of beneficiaries multiplies. Let's consider Aunt Sophie as an example:
* Your 'what to give her' problem has been solved. AND you've saved a huge amount of time searching for the 'perfect' gift. * You're giving twice - to the charity organization AND to Aunt Sophie. Aunt Sophie doesn't have to pretend to be grateful and then go looking for that drawer that she stashes her unopened presies in! * Aunt Sophie feels great because she's 'given' to a worthy cause and knows at least one more child in the world is able to go to school next year. * And then there's the charity organization themselves. They will probably be the most elated and grateful between the three of you!
So, before you become all flustered at those names on your Christmas gift shopping list, why not take out your credit card and hit the 'donate to charity' button?
You won't regret the investment.
About the Author
Colleen Wilkinson has a BA degree in Psychology, Communication and Linguistics. She is committed to conservation, self improvement and empowering others. Her website, Life is a Buffet, is a work-in-progress with the ultimate goal of providing resources for people to benefit and grow from while at the same time empowering those in the lesser privileged communities.
Source: Social Issues Articles on ArticlesTree.com
Recent Social Issues Articles
Fabulous Wedding Favors Ideas
Although wedding favors may not be the highlight of the wedding, they are a detail which requires some thought and planning. Luckily, you will almost be spoilt for choice so you won't have to worry too much about having a problem deciding what to go for.
5 Asian Wedding Favor Ideas
Are you looking for Asian wedding favors to make your wedding reception special for your guests? There are many different types of themed wedding favors that you can get even Asian ones. You just have to be willing to take the time to look for them.
10 Reasons Black Chef Jackets Are A Favorite
Deciding which work wear to utilize on a regular basis often means choosing a favorite design and style then choosing the color you prefer. There are two basic colors popular today when considering food service industry as is evident with the variety of white or black chef jackets.
10 Reasons Hospital Uniforms Are Just Better
Choosing the work wear you will utilize on a regular basis is an important part of your lifestyle. Wearing the wrong garments can have detrimental consequences, and when you work within the medical or healthcare industry, detrimental consequences can be deadly.
10 Types Of Summer Scrubs Guaranteed To Please
When the cool months of winter slowly melt away making room for blooming flowers and warmer weather, the need for purchasing appropriate summer scrubs is just around the corner. Yes, the warmer weather does mean medical apparel that is slightly more specialized providing coolness and airy designs capable of promoting your sense of comfort while allowing you to remain professional and elegant.
Recycling Plastic Bags and save planet Earth
Many store are giving away plastic bags too freely. This has become a major concern to environmentalists. The amount of wastes generated from plastic bags are scarely. We are looking at tons of wastes! They do not decompose in landfills and they do pose many hazards.
Safety Tips For Using Free Telephone Chat Lines
Would you like to find a way to meet singles who live in the same area as you? One way that is gaining popularity is using free telephone chat lines. It is easy enough to find the numbers you can call.
Got the picture 2
Here is another Canon digital picture moment from my many years of experiences. I hope you get as big a chuckle out of it as my friends have. My best friend and I have often thought of writing a book of all our funnier moments.
The Rise Of The Scammer.
How did scamming start and where did it come from? This is really a silly,or nieve question, would we ask, where did theft come from, or why are some people dishonest? No of course not and ultimately the internet is available to all without discrimination, the good and the bad, the honest and the dishonest.
The Solution for Men's Pants that Won't Stay Up
Copyright (c) 2008 Janine Giorgenti No Butts About It! If you have this problem, you are not alone. Six out of ten men suffer with the "lose my pants syndrome." Basically, their bellies are larger than their rear ends, making it almost impossible to keep their pants up where they belong.
The Dreaded Pennsylvania Hoop Snake
Back in the late 60's my parents still owned a lot of property, in fact they owned over 350 acres, and milked roughly 75 cows per day. One summer day I encountered something that I will never forget, in fact almost 40 years later the incident still remains strong in my mind.
For you, with you always: Kiran Bedi
It might have come as a shocker for her die hard fans and admirers, but it was very much on the cards, especially after being superseded by Y S Dadwal for the coveted top job in Delhi Police. The super-cop of Delhi Police and the first woman IPS officer of the country, Kiran Bedi made public on November 27, her decision to leave policing well ahead of her retirement age.
Take a walk with vegetables
You relish us with gusto. I am Ladyfinger. I am Onion. Well, I am Potato and I am Pumpkin. We all belong to the vegetable family. You know us very well because we are your daily need, the favourite eatables for the human beings and herbivorous animals.
Indian football still has miles to go
Indian football is on the verge of a new development. After winning its first ever Nehru Cup recently, the team is on the seventh heaven and the upcoming World Cup qualifier has been brought alive by the recent success of the Indian team.
Engine which uses air as fuel developed by Nazafgarh youths
With the burning desire to create and invent something unique, the three youths- Manish Kumar, Krishan Kumar and Murari Lal, all in the age group of twenties- from Nazafgarh, a village on the outskirts of Delhi, have developed an engine that operates solely on air as fuel, and which produces enough of energy to propel the vehicle.