Santa Claus is coming to town

HOHOHOOO! Santa Claus is coming to town for Christmas season approaches, and most of us have already started making our Christmas gift list and planning who we will give gifts to this year. Why don’t we do something different this year? Go beyond including just your family or friends and add at least one gift to your shopping list to donate to a child or children charity.
If you are planning on cutting back on your holiday spending or can’t afford another gift this season I am not suggesting that you to spend more but please consider spending a little less on the other fortunate people on your list to allow the purchase of a Christmas gift to donate to a needy or homeless child. I am sure the others on your list would gladly give up a portion of the cost of their gift to allow a donation for a children toys to be given to a needy on Christmas day.
If you have children of your own explain to them how donating works and ask for their ideas or the type of toys they think another child might want for Christmas. You will be surprised at how interested and helpful your children will be if you let them go shopping to pick out a gift for donating. Many of us are struggling to make ends meet in this tough economy but we should be grateful for what we have and consider helping other families and children that may not have any gifts or presents to open on Christmas morning.
Throughout the holiday season you will see many non profit volunteers standing at entrances to shopping malls and stores soliciting for your donations. Many of us make donations of cash as we walk by the cheerful volunteers and place a few dollars in their collection tray. People who make this type of donation feel they have done their part for society in helping the needy.
I am not discouraging donations to these national not for profit organizations, but I am asking you to go one step further and donate directly to a local charity in your town or community. When donating toys or gifts locally you can associate a face with your donated gift and maybe even know the child or family who will receive your Christmas gift, just as you know the others on your want list.
As a gift giver you know in your heart the gratifying feeling you have at that golden moment you give a gift to a child and see the excitement and happiness in their glowing face as they unwrap the present from you. Even if you don’t actually know the child receiving your gift, you will know in your heart that he or she has had a gift on Christmas from you. As you and your family open presents you will also know that on Christmas morning you made a difference and made a child’s dream come true of believing that maybe there really is a Santa Claus.