Bringing Meaning Back to the Holidays
Does it seem like the holidays are creeping up on you earlier and earlier every year? With the stores loaded with holiday decorations by early September, and the "buy, buy, buy!" message permeating your every waking hour, it is a little hard to catch your breath, let alone remember what the holidays are about. If you are ready to bring some meaning back to the holiday season and make this year the year of change, consider the following “give back” ideas.
Family Gratitude Jar
Have your kids decorate a large jar with the words “Give Back” clearly labeled. During dinner each evening during the months of November and December, ask each family member to describe one thing for which he/she is grateful. Each person then drops a quarter into the jar, and the family can decide upon a favorite charity for the season's donation. One great family charity is Heifer International (www.Heifer.org), which works to promote sustainability and self-reliance by using donations to help obliterate hunger and unemployment in impoverished areas. The money in your “Give Back” jar can buy items such as eggs and sheep for families who need them.
Some worthy environmental charities include:
• The Nature Conservancy: www.Nature.org
• Earth Day Coalition: www.EarthDayCoalition.org
• Sierra Club, Northeast Ohio Chapter: http://Ohio.SierraClub.org/Northeast
• Natural Resources Defense Council: www.nrdc.org
Kids Shop For Kids
Kids love to shop for other children, and there are plenty of organizations that accept kids' toys, books and clothing for children in homes or shelters. Consider setting a budget for your children and allowing them to buy selected items for kids their own ages. Just remember to check with the charity to which you wish to give to determine what items they need and accept. A few local charities to consider supporting include:
• Berea Children's Home: 434 Eastland Rd., Berea, OH 44017, (440) 234-2006
• Providence House: 2037 W. 32nd St., Cleveland, OH 44113, (216) 651-5982
• Shoes and Clothes for Kids: 4614 Prospect Ave. #511, Cleveland, OH 44103, (216) 881-7463
I Made This Just For You
Go back to a time when people gave gifts that they made themselves. These presents were cherished because they were made for just for the recipients, and the time and thought that went into the gifts are what really mattered. Here are some ideas to get you started:
• Soy Candles: www.Soya.Be/Soy-Candle-Making.php
• Paper: www.PioneerThinking.com/MakingPaper.html
• CorkBoard: www.AssociatedContent.com/ article/47291/unusual_cork_board_gifts_you_make_
yourself.html
Yummy Tummies
Create your own organic cookie mix to hand out for the holidays by using fresh, organic ingredients and putting them in festive glass jars tied with colored ribbons. It is a sure way to win over the hearts (and tummies) of your family and friends. As an added bonus, you can share this project with your kids and create festive and fun holiday memories.
Organic Sugar Cookie Mix
1-1/2 C organic white sugar
4 C organic all-purpose flour
1 t non-aluminum baking powder
1/2 t non-aluminum baking soda
1/2 t salt
3/4 t organic nutmeg
1 t organic vanilla extract
Prepare a clean quart-sized wide-mouth jar. Combine the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Layer half the sugar followed by half of the flour mixture, then repeat with the remaining of each. Press firmly in place and seal. Attach a card around the jar with the following recipe instructions:
In a large mixing bowl, beat 1 organic free-range egg with 1 cup softened organic butter until light and fluffy. Using low speed with an electric mixer, add 1/2 cup organic sour cream, 1 teaspoon organic vanilla and contents of jar. Mix until combined. Cover dough and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Remove dough from the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll chilled dough out on a lightly-floured surface to 1/8 inch thick. Cut dough into desired shapes. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
Makes 2 dozen.
Sustainable Wrapping
Check out a sustainable alternative to all of that one-time-used-then-wasted wrapping paper. Lagniappe Gift Wrap (www.lagniappegiftwrap.com) sells reusable gift bags made from completely natural fibers. Lagniappe also provides a valuable service for recycling: send in any type of old cloth bag and the company will wash, repair and re-sell it in its Redux lines, and in the process offer you 10 percent off your next purchase.
Put A Ban On Consumerism
Still need some help making the holidays meaningful? Peruse the following links and learn how to reduce shopping to a minimum and find meaning in the season:
• www.theGospelAccordingToLarry.com
• www.AdBusters.org/home
Rebecca Reynolds is a mother of three, an environmentalist and the creator and president of Green Clean, Inc., a socially conscious, all-natural, professional cleaning company. She can be reached at (440) 899-9295 or www.green-clean-inc.com.
