Giving to Others

You know, buying presents and gifts for those in our family is a fun thing to do but how many of you have kids that are really disappointed when they reach the end of their particular MOUNTAIN of presents.  They of course don't have to give presents from their own wallet and just don't understand that Christmas (or other holidays) isn't about them.  I've been thinking of ways that families can make the holidays FUN and still teach the concept of giving to others.  Here are a few charities you might consider sponsoring.  Be sure to encourage your kids to help in choosing what to give and maybe if you can afford to - let them each choose a "present" or gift to give to others.

Adopt-A-Classroom invites the community into the classroom in support of teachers and their students. By adopting a classroom, donors form partnerships with specific classrooms providing financial and moral support. The result is a meaningful contribution to education in which donors experience the impact of their efforts and celebrate in a classroom's success.

1. Begin by going to the Classroom Locator and find a classroom in your community that is participating.
2. You may donate any amount you desire, with a minimum of $25 per classroom.
3. You can adopt as many classrooms as you like.
4. You may visit the classroom, chaperone field trips, sponsor a career day, and support other activities that you coordinate directly with the teacher.

If there isn’t a class/teacher in your community that’s part of this great program, find a school, library or maybe there’s a family in your church that needs some help (ask your pastor) and find out what they’re needs are and help with those.

Zoe Ministry: Giving Hope to Orphans in Africa

This Christmas, give the gift of a new beginning.

In Africa, a cow, pig, even a goat can be the first step toward transforming the life of an orphan who is left to care for younger brothers and sisters because the AIDS pandemic claimed the lives of their parents.

The ZOE Orphan Empowerment Project equips these children with essential life skills such as farming, animal husbandry and small business training while sharing the good news of Christ’s love. 

An animal provides income, fertilizer for fields, and nourishment as orphans journey through ZOE’s Empowerment Project. Thanks to your gift, within three years, orphans escape the cycle of poverty and start living lives of dignity.

 

Children participating in this program receive the following based on their needs: hoes, gardening tools, seeds, animals, cereals, potatoes, mentoring and these in turn provide school fees, uniforms, food and supplies.  They also have a mentor that teaches them how to clear their fields, take care of their animals, teaches them basics that most of us have learned from our parents such as financial needs and the love of Jesus Christ.  

This would be a fun activity for a family to do through out the year.  Perhaps you can do a car, garage or bake sale to raise money to supply some of the children with basic needs. You can be a monthly partner, a prayer partner and ZOE has a number of other seasonal resources including a family devotional for Advent, Hope for Christmas Animal Project, special weekly prayers for Lent, a litany for World AIDS Day as well as VBS curriculum and Alternative Giving Fairs for churches to participate in together. Make a donation to Zoe Ministry HERE.