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Our donations to those in need can become a holiday tradition for our families. What better time of year to teach our children that the very commercial Christmas Season has its roots in giving rather than receiving. Our kids want (and often receive) the latest toys and electronics and become so involved in getting the treasures they ask for that the true spirit of the holidays gets lost.

There are lots of ways to help those in need during the holidays. Keep in mind that "donations" do not have to cost you a dime. Donate your time!

Here are some ideas to help you get started. Keep in mind that involving the entire family is what makes giving a valuable lesson:

1. Decorate a jar with your children on New Years Day. Make this your "loose change jar" and add coins to it throughout the year. As the holidays approach, sit down with your family and decide who should receive the jar on Christmas. When my children were young, we chose a different charity every year. Once it was to a soup kitchen that was asking for dontations. Another Christmas, we decided that an animal rescue we liked deserved our donation. We discussed that when giving, it is important to do so without any fanfare. It isn't about getting a pat on the back. We'd just drop off our jar and say "We hope this will help." Many charities receive large contributions throughout the year. Seek out the smaller ones that desperately need public support. Try a senior citizen center, a veterans outreach program, a soup kitchen, people who foster stray animals at their own expense.

2. Shovel snow for a neighbor or ask if you can help them decorate for the holidays.

3. Bake cookies for a newly widowed friend or neighbor who might find the holidays very difficult.

4. "Adopt" a needy family from a giving tree in stores and malls at this time of year. Buy a new toy or gift for someone who might not have much of a Christmas without us.

5. Bag up clothes that no longer fit and drop them off at a homeless shelter or women's shelter.

6. Call a soup kitchen and offer your help on Christmas. Taking a few hours of your cozy Christmas to serve a meal to those who have nothing really makes YOUR Christmas more meaningful. I have found that sometimes, soup kitchens receive lots of help for Thanksgiving and Christmas from church groups and other organizations. If this is the case, schedule a date after the holidays when the soup kitchen needs the help. Just ask how and when you can help.

7. Visit a Veteran's Hospital to thank veterans for their service. Many veterans live at the hospitals and have no regular visitors. What better way to give, than to visit and say "thank you".

8. "Adopt" a soldier. Soldier's Angels is a great place to start! You can visit their website at http://www.soldiersangels.org/ . This program's motto is "May No Soldier Go Unloved". You can adopt a man or woman serving our country and stationed oversees. You're given a name and address of a soldier who receives little mail from home and are asked to send letters and cards and once a month or so, a package from home with items you'd like to send.

The size of your contributions during the holidays is unimportant. Whether you decide to give time or money is unimportant. Making a difference IS imortant. The lesson of giving is the best gift you can give your children!

Learn more about this author, Patricia Cunningham.
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