Spread that Holiday Cheer - and Get Some In Return

Christmas – time for family, friends, eggnog, gifts, shopping, crowds, lines, credit card bills, no parking spaces….wait, that’s not what Christmas is all about!

Unfortunately, the holiday season in our culture has become less about giving and more about braving crowded shopping malls and maxing our credit lines, just so we can prove our love those close to us.   Psychologists have found that the holiday season is actually a highly stressful time, leaving people tired, anxious, and irritable under the pressures of family, shopping, finances, cooking – the list just goes on and on.

The true spirit of giving has in some ways become obsolete.  So what are we to do? Well, there is always more eggnog, but I think the best choice is to spread the holiday cheer; what better way to do this than by donating to holiday-themed charitable causes?

There are many from which to choose this season.  The most well-known include the Make a Wish Foundation or Toys for Tots.  But don’t overlook lesser-known organizations, such as Angel Tree, which provides gifts to the children and families of prisoners in the name of their incarcerated parent, or Secret Santa, which is an online database that lets you search for toy drives in your area.

One holiday charity that I feel particularly embodies the spirit of the holiday season is Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, a faith-based international relief organization that provides emergency assistance to victims of natural disaster, war, disease, and famine.  Operating since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse is an exceptional example of fundraising and operational success.  Ranking 57th on the Forbes 200 Largest Charities list, Samaritan’s Purse has increased its fundraising income by more than 150% since 1998.  This threefold increase, now totaling $230 million a year in support, is raised from seven regional offices throughout North America, Oceana, and Europe. With these funds, Samaritan’s Purse provides medical aid, child health, HIV/AIDS programs, community development, and emergency relief to 130 nations. 

Through Samaritan’s Purse’s Christmas giving program, Operation Christmas Child, more than 7.5 million children received Christmas gifts last year.  This program allows individuals to pack their own Christmas box, filled with whatever toys, clothing, books, or other items that a child may want or need for Christmas.  These boxes can then be dropped off at one of Samaritan’s Purse’s locations, or sent by mail to their offices for delivery.

Much like going online to order that perfect sweater or beauty kit for the one you love, Operation Christmas Child also allows you to order gifts stress free, through the internet. You can spread some holiday cheer by sending a Christmas gift of a flock of chicks or ducks.  You can send a gift of clothing, blankets, or food.  If you are of the Christian faith, and wish to share it, you can send a Bible or a Gospel story book.  Operation Christmas Child allows donors to give gifts that come from their hearts, giving them the opportunity to see what their funds are used for.   

So if you are suffering from that holiday-time stress, struggling to get everything done and find those perfect gifts, may I suggest a gift in the true spirit of the season?  Operation Christmas Child, or any other of the many holiday charitable causes allows you to better the life of a child and/or their family.  So spread some holiday cheer and maybe you will get some back. Besides, how many people do you know who can say they gifted a dairy goat wrapped up in a bow!?