As a child, I remember waiting for the stores Holiday Gift Guides to be delivered. Nothing compared to that shot of adrenaline that jolted through my body when I spotted the raised mailbox flag. My friends and I would spend hours flipping through the glossy colourful pictures and making wish lists.
We were the lucky ones.
In 2012, a record 882,000 Canadians used food banks each month, the highest level of food bank usage ever.
Source: Canada Without Poverty
It’s that time of year again but not all kids will be waiting by their mailbox. Some already know that there won’t be anything under the Christmas tree with their name on it.
I can’t help but think that there is something that I could do to make a difference. To make someone’s dream a reality.
I came up with a plan and it involves you.
I need you to tweet, facebook, call, email, beg a person or company to donate an item for any member of the Family or cash valued at no less than $25. In exchange for this gift, I will write a Charity Gift Guide Post and mention the Donor.
I ask for nothing in return except the joy of delivering all these items to my local food bank, House of Lazarus.
Please let me know if you have any questions or have any other ways that you would like to help. Collections will end on November 15 so don’t miss out.
Let’s make 2013 go out with a bang and make it a year to remember.
Can you Give the Gift of Giving?
Please click on one of the share buttons below. You can make a difference in someone’s life.
In case you didn’t know, this is an annual event in memory of our son Alexander.
In 2010, we donated several items In His Honour, in 2011 we donated items to Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and in 2012, Ronald McDonald House Ottawa was the recipient.
We are proud to announce that at the time of posting we have five gifts donated by VTech Canada and 2 Blue Ducks. First come, first served. Please contact me for details (journeysofthezoo at hotmail dot com).
Note that House of Lazarus (http://www.houseoflazarus.com/) is a registered not-for-profit Canadian charity, #134560309RR0001
Count me in for some cash and probably some gifts…and probably some food donation. I can pick up items from others up North here and deliver them to you too if need be.
Dear Rene,
Very kind of you. Thank you. I’ll take all the help and donations I can get.
Besos, Sarah
Well you know I am a huge supporter of the food bank. This is a wonderful idea and I am, as usual, so proud of you for doing awesome things like this. I wish you much success!!
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This is a wonderful thing, thank you so much Sarah, as a needy family we do appreciate all the help we receive. So glad to have Angels like you watching over us <3
Thank you for posting this. It’s so important to give back and I love that such a great blogger like you takes the time to raise awareness for charities!
I tweeted, FB shared, and google +
Wonderful cause I donate on a regular basis to our local food bank
I’ll share for sure—this year we are the family that the food bank is helping…so I can only pass along for other to see.
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That is so great, Sarah 🙂 I’ve won a few things this year that I cannot use, but I am donating them to my sister’s family as they can’t afford to buy much for their kids! We try to do a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child yearly, but since I’m not working I’m not sure we can afford that this year 🙁
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Such a great post and I hope everyone who sees it remembers ’tis the season to be generous. That’s the best part of the holiday. 🙂
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I do what I can for food charities in my area–which isn’t much this year due to me not working. However when I see them collecting outside the supermarket I shop-I will be donating a few items to the cause.
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I am so sorry for your loss 🙁 And think you are doing an amazing job of honoring your sons memory by bringing joy to less fortunate kids 🙂 You are amazing people doing what you do and I think it’s a shame the world doesn’t have more people like you, keep up the wonderful job!
Amazing job and it sounds like you are well on your way! I would love to read some updates!
Great initiative! Will share this post to friends and relatives who are living in Canada. 🙂
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This is absolutely amazing. Such a great idea, and good luck with getting it all put together and making it a huge success. You can do it! And I will try to spread the word as much as I can!
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That is a beautiful idea! You are going to help some children in need have a memorable Christmas!
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I think this is great what you are doing in raising awareness. There are so many families out there who need help and this is a good time of year to give. We give as much as we can all year long.
we just moved to a new area but we usually do the christmas tree presents each of us pick one off a tree and buy a gift for that child. and always give food to the food box that are at the grocery stores
we do food bank donations as well, just dropped off a couple tins of formula as well as formula coupons.
This was such a great post! Thank you so much for this informed post about donating. It is so important to give back to others in need. I make sure to teach my children about the gift of giving, even if it is just giving their time to help others!