The Season of Giving Hope

It's the Giving Season, y'all! What does that mean to you? Do you give just to your family? Your friends? What about total strangers? In early December I will write my annual Crunchy Chic Gift Guide to help you buy gifts for friends and families consciously and stylishly, but today's post is about giving to TOTAL STRANGERS and those in-need. My family and I always participate in philanthropic endeavors during the holidays. We have volunteered and donated many things to many organizations. Then, about a month ago, Aaron showed me the video I have posted here, and it gave me an idea for a new way to give this year.

This video reinforced for me that the total impact of giving hope to someone, of allowing a person to feel confidence, love, and respect, has the potential to be massive. I want to participate in that. And I invite you to join me! Let's spread our giving arms wider than ever this year to be the loving, humanitarian crunchy chic gifters that we really are! Let's give the gifts of love, hope, and happiness to those who could really use them. The more of us who participate, the more of the world can be touched! Read more to learn about ways to give and the idea that has me really excited for Giving Season 2013!

If you want to know what the Holiday Season is all about, look no further than Santa Claus himself. Nicholas (St. Nick) was born during the third century in what is now Turkey. His wealthy parents died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young, and he used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering, particularly children. His life was devoted to helping others, and for him, and the millions he has inspired, it was a life well-lived. Regardless of your faith, the Holiday Season is about spreading magic, love, and joy. And that transcends faiths and cultures. It's fun and wonderful to give to our children and families, but it's just as wonderful to give to those who really need it. There are many worthwhile organizations, and there are many ways to give. When you do it from the heart, giving becomes like artwork, carefully and lovingly designed by the artist, and very personal to him or her. But if you're just getting started and need ideas, here are some of the ways my family gives this time of year:

1. We give the gift of sustainability and sovereignty! Heifer International is dedicated to ending hunger and poverty worldwide. Every year, they put out a Holiday Gift Catalog. Both online and sent by mail, you can choose to give food- or fur-producing animals, animal care kits, and knitting supplies to families in
many countries around the world. The idea is to give the gifts of not only food and clothing, but of sustainability, sovereignty, and pride, which are immeasurable. Something small for you may be just what a humble family needs to thrive, and we are committed every year. My favorite part is that we get to see how connected our world is. There are also organizations that provide water filters and other important tools to help families do well into perpetuity. It's an important gift.

2. We participate in our local Holiday Feast drives. Our Yelm Food Co-op has an annual program called Gift of Gobble, and each year Aaron and I give just $10-$20 to help ensure that families in-need get to have Thanksgiving feasts. My Aunt Andrea started this program (go Andrea!) 3 years ago, and it grows each year! This season alone, the Co-op is donating organic turkey dinners to 100 families in our local communities thanks to the support of Co-op patrons. It's wonderful to know that because of humble contributions made by hundreds of people, that 100 low-income families will have an organic Thanksgiving meal this year. Even small things like that mean a lot to someone.

3. We donate or volunteer to help those without a voice and without a choice. This means children and animals. Albert Schwietzer said, "Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man himself will never know peace. By ethical conduct to all creatures, we enter into a spiritual relationship with the universe." I couldn't agree more. In fact, I just gave a second gift this year to one of my favorite organizations, Pasado's Safe Haven, which runs an 85-acre animal sanctuary outside Seattle, and rescues animals from abuse and neglect and brings them to live there until they are adopted. I give to a variety of animal rights and rescue organizations, both local and national. But money isn't all you can give. I have a dear friend Joanna who, because she feels compelled to, spreads the word about horses who are slated for meat auction. She is always putting photos and stories of horses on Facebook, so they can be adopted before it's too late. And she herself has bought two in the last year. And it goes without saying that there are many organizations that help children with everything from basic needs, to achieving success in school, to protecting them and helping them heal from abuse. Please do your part to support these efforts!

4. Give directly to those in-need. This year we are going to make "stockings" for homeless people whom we encounter on the street. I'm so excited! Right now, we're giving thought to what we'd want if we had nothing. Ever thought about it? So far we have listed a bunch of personal care items as well as bottled water and non-perishable foods. We also thought of gloves and/or socks, and maybe some hand-warmers. And some candy, just for fun. To finish it off, we are going to make holiday cards, with messages of love, thanks and well wishes. I have been thinking a lot about the tens of thousands of veterans suffering from PTSD and other injuries, who find themselves unable to work, and eventually without a place to live. And certainly not all the homeless are veterans, but they could all use a little uplifting. So that is what we intend to do! I thought that if I could give personal items that might make them feel better about themselves, as well as fun little gifts to lighten their hearts, and a holiday card to show them someone cares, it might all help to heal a hurt. And who knows what that could do. My mom, who is particularly passionate about helping women and children, purchased numerous nail polishes (non-toxic!), makeup remover, nail kits, and hair care items for women victims of domestic violence and female teens in homeless shelters and foster programs. Again, it's about showing them that people care--showing them that there is reason to look forward to tomorrow.

As you can see, Hope is the common theme. At the Hands On Children's Museum annual Imagine That! Breakfast last Thursday, we heard from Dr. Shane Lopez, the leading researcher on Hope and the author of Making Hope Happen. Dr. Lopez talked about the importance of hope as the leading indicator of academic, business, and personal success. Hope begins and is strongest in childhood, as evidenced by the fact that children are always dreaming and asking questions about their futures. But according to significant research, a large portion of children across our nation lack hope, particularly those who come from impoverished families. In other words, they cannot envision a better future, and therefore they stop dreaming of and striving for better. Their futures are no longer filled with possibility, but with probability. To me, it's devastatingly sad, and for our world, when you consider that children without hope become parents of children without hope, it's grim. It explains pretty succinctly the unfortunate and complicated cycles of poverty. This is the biggest reason I now work for the Hands On Children's Museum, because of its efforts to ensure that all children get opportunities to explore, play, create, and imagine themselves as whatever they want to be! Anything is possible within the Museum walls and that hope spreads to the outside world.

I have realized through my own giving and through a lot of contemplation, that if I commit my life to cultivating hope in others, whether friends, family or complete strangers, then that is a life well-lived. It doesn't take much to make someone feel love and joy. And according to research, if you give 1 person the gift of hope, it eventually touches 3 lives. There is no equation to explain how 1 simply becomes 3. It's just MAGIC. And that is what this Season is all about. At the end of his address, Dr. Lopez shared his favorite "hope" quote, and I was equally impacted when he read it aloud. It seems appropriate to leave you with it:

 “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” 

― Robert F. Kennedy

Love and blessings to you all as you do your good deeds and make the world better!

Happy Holidays,

Ms. Crunchy Chic