|
|
|
Last
Updated: Nov 3rd, 2007 - 14:31:06 |
The holidays are coming - again! The mad rush will soon be on to get this year's hottest toys and that perfect present. I'm reminded of last year when my sister-in-law made the most amazing gesture. She and her husband have two little girls and these little girls have grandparents and aunts and uncles and a lot of people who love them, so needless to say they get many, many Christmas presents.
Last year my sister-in-law decided that we could get each of the girls one small thing if we felt the need but that their big gift should be a donation to our favorite charity. I found the gesture to be unbelievably generous and the lesson to the kids a great one. Not everyone in the family reacted the way that I did, however. But I was more than happy to oblige. I ended up making a donation to the ASPCA on the girls' behalf and they each received a stuffed puppy in a carrier as a thank you gift.
I wanted to share some ideas about animal charities to which you can give while still giving a gift to a child. The ASPCA is a wonderful choice and you can check out their website www.aspca.org for these types of gift ideas.
Some of my other favorites are: The World Wildlife Fund - www.WWF.org where you can help an endangered species and get a plush likeness of it as well. The Humane Society of the United States: www.HSUS.org where you get a free subscription to All Animals magazine with your donation. You can also purchase items on many websites that use the proceeds or a portion thereof to support the work that they do. You can try your local SPCA branch, local shelters or breed rescue organizations like www.greyhoundfriends.org.
Whatever you decide, remember that you will not only be saving an animals life; you will also be teaching a valuable lesson. And in many cases your donation is tax deductible.
Another great gift idea is to gather your friends, children or co-workers and make gift boxes for your local shelter. Most shelters post their "wish lists" on-line or you can call your local shelter to ask about their specific needs. My family did a sheet and towel and unused dog item drive for my favorite rescue organization, Save a Sato (www.saveasato.org). By just getting everyone to clean out their linen closets and their dogs' toy and clothing bins we were able to send three boxes to volunteers and the rescues that they care for in Puerto Rico. All it took was cleaning and postage, and this simple act meant so much.
So this year while you are going crazy making out cards, cooking and gift-wrapping maybe you can take a little time to plan for the animals who won't be having that Norman Rockwell moment next to your fireplace this holiday season.
Top
of Page
|
|
|
|
