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A Twist on the Traditional Christmas Present
This is such a busy and hectic time of the year as we prepare to wrap up 2008. In the midst of the Christmas season, there are so many things going on. One of the more time-consuming (and money-consuming) tasks is, of course, gift shopping. Since our young kids started preschool a few years back, their teachers have been added to our list of people for whom we’re buying gifts.
Giving homemade gifts
In the past, we’ve tried making our own gifts for them to make them a bit more personal and to keep the cost down. One year, for instance, my wife found a great recipe for wholegrain pancakes. She then bought some decorative glass containers and layered the ingredients in them and attached a copy of the recipe. I thought it was a pretty neat idea and it was a little more personal than buying a trinket plus it was less expensive. The trade-off, of course, was that it took much more time to prepare.
Who doesn’t want to get a goat for Christmas?
For the last few years, we’ve taken an entirely different approach for these gifts. We have started buying more "useful" gifts for them like goats, chickens, sheep, blankets, etc (You should see the look on their faces when they see the goat!). Ok, so obviously we don’t actually give any of the animals to the teachers. We purchase them in the teachers’ names to be given to needy people in various parts of the world. The organizations provide gift cards to give to the recipients that inform them a bit about the organization and what was purchased in their name and what benefits it will provide.
There are a number of organizations that utilize these "gift catalogs" to make giving donations more real and tangible. For the past few years, we have been buying these gifts through World Vision’s Christmas gift catalog . We have sponsored a child through World Vision for a number of years, so it was natural for us to buy these gifts through them. Gospel for Asia also produces a gift catalog with the same idea in mind.
Do you think your teacher would like a water buffalo?
We usually allow the kids to pick out what they want to give each of their teachers so it’s a little bit of fun for them too. I actually find it quite interesting to see what they pick ("And why do you want to get a llama in Mrs. X’s name?"). There are other gift options as well. Beyond animals, for instance, World Vision has categories for food, shelter, HIV prevention and AIDS care, health care, education, and others.
Of course, these gifts are much, much more expensive than creating homemade gifts or even giving "normal" gifts. So, though these take a lot less time to purchase, you will probable end up spending more money. We feel it is worth the extra money for a few reasons, however. I really feel that it is a more meaningful gift for the recipients. In fact, we have gotten very good feedback from all of the teachers to which we’ve given such gifts. Maybe I am being naive, but how many mugs does a teacher need to get each year?
What other gift can do as much good for someone who needs it?
Also, I believe this is certainly one of the most useful gifts you can give. You are directly impacting a family’s life somewhere in the world by providing the ability for someone to feed his/her family and earn some money for other expenses and also, if you use one of the Christian organizations, to hear about the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ. They also open up your children’s eyes to the great need that exists in our world and ways that they can start being generous to others.
So, yes, these gifts are more expensive. At the same time, I do feel that they are great gifts to give in honor of someone. They are meaningful and beneficial for a number of reasons. I encourage you to take a look at the catalogs and to read about the impact these organizations have on the lives of people in need around the world.
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This is an excellent idea. My family and I sponsor a child through World Vision as well and I was not aware of this catalogue.
Personally, I love the idea of unwrapping a Yak at Christmas…..
Very cool idea… I would be pretty excited to get a goat
I am reminded of a time I took my pampered little dog to a farm and he got head-butted by a frightened goat – it was a pretty funny moment for me…
A great supporter of World Vision is AIDtoCHILDREN.com.
AIDtoCHILDREN.com is a dual-purpose site for building an English vocabulary and raising money for under privileged children in the most impoverished places around the world.
Check it out at http://www.aidtochildren.com