I love Christmas and I loathe Christmas.
The REAL message of Christmas seems to get lost in our world of frenzied retail.
My boys have grown to feel entitled to a bounty of gifts, many of which they have no need of. Giving feels more obligatory than anything.
How do we undo the Christmas that has been spoiled by the notion of getting? As a parent it’s a tricky balancing act.
I was recently introduced to the CARE organization and asked if I would spread the word about their site.
When I learned what they were all about I was 100% on board and new this was something my family and I had to do.
In lieu of posting my traditional holiday gift guide I’m opting to share a much more meaningful way of giving.
This weekend my men and I sat at the computer and bought a goat.
That’s right, a goat.
Not for us but for a family in need through the CARE Organization.
Through our donation this goat will help provide milk to a family and they will also be able to sell that milk to make money for basic necessities we take for granted.
You want to see just how sheltered your suburbia USA kids are, go on to this website with them and pick out a gift together for someone in a developing nation.
They’ll ask, “what on earth would someone want a goat for?”
It will be quite the education lesson. There’s no Wii games to give, no designer jean’s to choose from…just tools that will help people have clean water, seeds to plant that will help them eat and become self-sufficient and medial supplies that will save the lives of thousands.
Not only does it benefit people in a developing country in desperate need but it also gets my family thinking beyond the privileged neighborhood we live in and think globally about how to help our neighbors in other countries. Trying to wrap their head around drinking the same water that animals and people bathe in was a difficult concept for them to grasp. This site opened the world up to them and they started to think of ways to help instead of ways to get. This will for sure be helping someone on the other side of the world but also, out of all the gifts I give my boys this year, this one will be the most meaningful because it’s expanding the way they think about the world.
There are lots of ways to give and price point donations ranging from $25. to $10,000. You can also donate in someone’s name as a gift. So when your grandma tells you not to get her anything but you still want to, you can make a donation in her name and CARE will send her a gift notification by mail or email. Last year CARE donated over $72 million in over 90 countries.
You can learn more about CARE and how you can help their cause on their website. All donations are 100% tax deductible.
With CARE you can help deliver lasting change.
Hey there! I’m Michelle; I’m an Passionate DIY’er and in constant pursuit of how to bring beauty to my house full of men (3 boys + 1 hubby). Stick around and see what I’ve got up my hard-working sleaves!
I love it! 13 years ago my then 6 y/o son asked for a “kid” for Christmas. He was referring to one of the children he saw on a Care.ca commercial. We sponsored Antonio for years and our “care” packages at Christmas were alw2ays the highlight of the shopping season for my sons. Way to go Mom.
That is so awesome. Brings a new meaning to Christmas. This will be a new tradition for as long as my children are in the house. 🙂
Thank you so much. I look forward to participating in this.
You’re so welcome! Yay!
Thank you so much for posting this! We are trying to focus on service and giving to people who really need help this Christmas because I’ve felt sick as we got ready to move this summer at how much (too much!) we have (even though I purge regularly and try to be somewhat minimalist) and how my kids were asking (and expecting) more. We’re doing a stocking Christmas (they’re getting a stocking with a few little things) and they’re giving gifts to each other and that’s it. There has been some grumbling, but it has been such a relief to not be searching all the holiday gift guides, wondering where we’re going to put more stuff and worrying about making all the gifts fair (not more to one kid than another). We’ve done gifts though Heifer international before and will definitely be looking into this organization.
You are so welcome! Thank YOU too. I love the idea of just doing a stocking Christmas. Honestly, what do my kids really need? NOTHING! Focusing our Christmas giving to has been so GOOD for our family. Glad you too see the benefit of it!
Hugs, Michelle
LOVE this! Just what I was looking for to add to our holidays too. Been trying to get back to the heart of it the past few years as well. Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas! 🙂
Thanks Kim! Merry Christmas!
Thank you, thank you for this inspired idea! We are going to do this for FHE next week and we will donate in the education section on behalf of the kids’ teachers as their teacher gift this year! I had never heard of this organization and I’m so happy that instead of a candle or a mug of Hershey kisses, our money will go toward something the teachers will truly appreciate!!
Totally agree. Great idea! Thanks Lisa!