Giving Tuesday

Today is Giving Tuesday, a new day designated for giving rather than getting.  This is what the holiday spirit is all about after all.  Now that we have had four days focused on holiday shopping, the goal of Giving Tuesday is simple; let's all give back together.  I love that you can do this so well with the Christian humanitarian organization World Vision.  It is one of two thousand organizations nationwide challenging Americans to take part in the new national movement. To help those affected by Superstorm Sandy, during the week of November 26, any gift of food, clothing, or school supplies for children in the U.S. given through World Vision’s Gift Catalog will be designated for the Christian humanitarian agency’s Sandy relief efforts.  World Vision relief teams have been distributing much-needed supplies in some of the most vulnerable communities hit by this devastating storm on the East Coast.  What a blessing this really is to those struck by such loss.

There are many ways to participate in Giving Tuesday:

• Volunteer Virtually: Not everyone is able to take off work to physically volunteer, but you can volunteer virtually by donating food kits online through World Vision. Each ‘kit’ contains enough food to feed a family of five for one day ($16 per kit).  

• How about giving two ways?  Yes you can donate your funds and receive a glass-bead necklace to share as a second gift with someone you love. I love this one that is handmade in Thailand.  This colorful necklace can be worn several different ways — even as a multi-stranded bracelet. 

• Give a Meaningful Gift: Share the spirit by giving a gift that can change a life. World Vision has hundreds of gifts such as goats, fresh water wells, and life- saving medicines that can be given in the name of a family member, teacher, co-worker or child. Gifts start as low as $10. After purchasing a Gift Catalog item, the person whose name the gift was given in, can receive a special card describing the gift and its impact.

• Teach Generosity: Giving Tuesday is a great opportunity for parents, grandparents, and teachers to help children understand the importance of generosity and giving to others. World Vision can be a helpful educational tool. The Pendleton family, of Colorado, adopted their son from Kazakhstan. When he saw the Mongolian Ger in the catalog, he immediately wanted to buy one for people in his homeland. “I didn’t know how to explain to a 10-year-old that $1,862 is a lot of money, so I didn’t,” said mom Amy. “And sure enough, he raised it all!”  But it does not have to be so much at one time.  Doing a little still helps and it starts your child learning to give back too.  What a wonderful gift that is.

I am so happy to feature World Vision in my gift guide this year as I have done for the last 3 years.  I feel it is a wonderful way to share, love and give back.  Thanks so for World Vision to share with me the beautiful necklace up above in response to my post!  I would recommend this as a yearly tradition for any family.