Ways to Give Back This Holiday Season

The Christmas holiday season is particularly wonderful because, most working people are on holiday and get to spend time with their loved ones. They get to give each other gifts and make each other happy. The act of giving does several important things to us, as human beings, it helps us deepen a relationship, it lets people know that we are thinking about them. Giving also makes both the giver and the receiver, feel good especially if they know their gifts really change or affect lives. Giving actually does more for the giver than the receiver, it softens the heart and teaches one to think beyond themselves.

I think it's Important to challenge ourselves to give outside our immediate circle of friends and family. It’s easy to give to family, because we love them. Giving outside those that we care about, to people that actually benefit from our gifts actually helps us connect to our humanity. An act of kindness connects people beyond race, tribe, religion and all those classifications that divide us.

There are two ways to give, you can give your money or your time. Both ways of giving are great- the point is to give. So that means everyone, can do something from the littlest child to the oldest.

A lot of people do not have Ideas on how their time or money can be impactful, below are 5 examples on how to give this season (and year round) and be impactful to your community.

Volunteer at a children’s home

There are children in our community that have been abandoned, that need love, care and attention. The children at Angel Center for abandoned children are children whose parents were not in a position to take care of them so, enter, a real Angel walking among us, Wamaitha Mwangi. She is a self confessed ex- party girl who stepped up to care for those who are helpless and with no hope at the tender age of 27. She started a children’s home and cares for between 30- 40 children at a time, and helps these children find good homes while helping the children thrive.

So how would you help? Here are some ideas.

Use your skills

Whatever skill is you have, use it to benefit the children. An example would be creating an organic garden to help center grow fruits and vegetables to feed themselves at a fraction of the cost. That was the idea owners Jovanna Johnson-Cooke of Maitu Foods and Karen Lucas of Kathy’s kitchen had, they follow a vegan healthy food lifestyle that they thought could benefit the children. So whatever your skillset is, think about how it could use it to help. If you are a doctor, consider volunteering once or twice a month, or if you just want to hang out with some kids, drop by and ask them how you can help.

Give clothes and diapers

Anyone with kids or little brothers and sisters know how fast, kids outgrow clothes. So consider dropping off some new or clean gently used clothes that the children can use. Buy some diapers, one can never have enough of those, with kids around. Organise a diaper/ toy or clothes drive at your church or workplace and drop of a car full of stuff for the children, the items will surely get used up.

Give Money

The center has monthly bills to pay, electricity to pay, have to buy food, meet payroll for employees who take care of the children. There is no substitute for the need for cash, so whatever you can give would really help with the monthly budget for bills. To donate you can find the details here.

Make their Christmas great

I think the best thing about Christmas for children, is to get to eat as much as you want, drink soda and eat junk food and get some presents, have someone make you feel special. Well you can do just that, drop off some groceries for their Christmas lunch, a crate or 2 of sodas, some cookies and toys, anything to put a smile on a Childs face. If you have some time to stop by on Christmas day, Kathy’s kitchen, family and friends will be cooking Christmas lunch for the 5th time in a row and I am sure they could use some help.

Consider helping someone out this christmas season. There is a universal law of reciprocity that you can bank on, the more you give, the more you receive. At the very least giving makes us very grateful for our blessings and at the same time makes an Impact to those that need help. Please consider supporting Angel Center for Abandoned Children this season and beyond.