Chistmas charities , toys and gifts for free or very low cost , free downloads free holiday music ,and much more.
*****There's nothing wrong with your computer ! Yes , I do keep changing the colors on this page !*****
Please read : If you choose to buy toys(or food etc.) this year , or if toys are given to you ,and you have any question about their safety , here is a link for you by my wonderful friend , Elaine of TSA , from Aidpages :
IDEAS FOR A NO OR LOW MONEY CHRISTMAS
On this page are : lot's of fun ideas and charities for help , as well as free things to get and to make.
The emphasis will be on giving . Not the " I wants" . Not the "gimmes".Not "poor me I don't have (fill in the blank)".Not the latest $$$$ fad.
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As always , The Toymaker has great holiday toys to print out and put together. Here is her Christmas page :
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CHRISTMAS CHARITIES
*Charity links are towards the bottom of the page. (There are 8 plus so far !)As a gift to me (soulight) this Christmas , please read some of the information on the way down to the charity links. : )
From my friend on Aidpage , a tip for people who may have missed the deadlines for toys and other items for Christmas : Soulight, for all the posters I see who have missed application deadlines, they may want to call their local mayors office which usually has toy drives too.
On this Christmas page ,the emphasis is on the true meaning of Christmas*
The emphasis is charity , simplicity and JOY !
* This is what I mean by celebrating the true meaning of Christmas :
Charlie Brown and the true meaning of Christmas by soulight
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*I am not saying that we should not celebrate Christmas with presents and parties.
*I am saying that we should do so with a heart that is in the right place.
*Christmas is not about Santa and the give-me's.
*It is the celebration of Jesus Christ's birthday.
* It may not be the "historically accurate" actual date of His birthday , but I don't use that as an excuse not to celebrate my Lord
* Any day is a celebration of His life and resurrection.
So , have a Blessed Christmas. I sincerely pray that we all get our true heart's desire this holiday season.
Christmas Stories that are Heartwarming
Every year , I search for books that might have good , heartwarming stories for Christmas . This year , I have found some on the web. I would like to share them with you.
A great story about a man who wanted to celebrate real things at Christmas time ,and his wife who understood.
Here is a story about a beautiful tablecloth and how it helped three people at Chrismas time.
Old Time Radio Shows were not about buying things at Christmas time.
They emphasized love , charity and the Birth of a King. Going back to an earlier time can help us get our perspective back.
Listening to these shows I think about values and what has happened since the more simple times. Are we yearning to go back when we talk about being simple ?
What kind of values do we really want ?
Are we happy with the ones we have right now ?
Christmas time is also a time of reflection.
Turn back time for a night or too and gather around the radio instead of the television .
Here are some shows for your family to listen to together !
So turn off the TV
and listen as you work on some fun Christmas activities or projects together.
From a site called "Senses Working Overtime" If you tried this link before and it didn't work , it does now ! :
CHRISTMAS 2007 , Senses Working Overtime
From another great About dot com site :
MORE OLD TIME AND HISTORICAL RADIO SHOWS TO ENJOY
More really good old time radio Christmas shows :
PART ONE
OLD TIME CHRISTMAS RADIO SHOWS
PART TWO
OLD TIME RADIO CHRISTMAS SHOWS
Directly below are some wonderful links for ideas about how to have a simple low or no money Christmas.Simplicity is a wonderful concept to embrace . You will recieve more than you can ever imagine if you are willing to let go of material ideas about Christmas .
If you are not there yet , start the transition this year. Embrace the Love of Christmas and the Child of Christmas. Cherish family and church and friends. Reach out to the disabled , elderly , single mom , and low income person.
Giving truly
gives back
in the form of
true Joy.
TEN GREAT IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
HOW TO HAVE A CHRISTMAS WITH NO MONEY
MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS GIFTS THAT MONEY CAN'T BUY
HAVE YOURSELF A VERY SIMPLE CHRISTMAS
FINDING PEACE AND JOY IN THE MIDST OF COMMERCIALISM RUN -AMOK
ALTERNATIVES FOR SIMPLE LIVING CHRISTMAS IDEA PAGE
Talking about Gift Giving
FOR AGES: 4 to 10
"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo.- THIS ARTICLE SAYS IT IS FOR AGES 4-10 . HOWEVER , IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START A CHANGE FOR THE GOOD IN YOUR AND YOUR CHILDREN'S LIVES. FAMILY DINNER RAP
10 Tips for a Simpler More Meaningful Christmas
1. Plan ahead. Instead of going on auto-pilot the day after Thanksgiving, hold a family meeting to decide what the group really wants to do and who's going to do what.
2. If you need a symbol for giving (in addition to Jesus and the Three Wise Ones), learn about St. Nicholas. Santa Claus has been completely taken over by commerce.
3. Avoid debt. Refuse to be pressured by advertising to overspend.
4. Avoid stress. Give to yourself. Don't assume that things have to be the same way they've always been.
5. Draw names rather than everyone giving something to everyone else in your giving circle. Set a ceiling for each recipient. Give children ONE thing they really want, rather than so many gifts. If need be, pool funds.
6. Give appropriate gifts. Get to know the recipient. Give what they want to receive, not what you want to buy.
7. Give alternative gifts. Give 25% of what you spent last year to the needy... individuals or groups locally, nationally or internationally.
Buy crafts and clothing from developing countries at alternative gift markets, not from commercial importers, so that the artisans receive a fair price for their work.
Give of yourself, not just "stuff" - a coupon book for future services (such as baby-sitting or an "enchanted evening"); something baked, sewn, handmade, composed, etc.; or a family service project, such as working together at a soup kitchen.
8. Celebrate Advent for four weeks before Christmas.
9. Put the gifts under the tree shortly before opening them. Then take turns opening them around the tree, not all at once, so that each gift can be admired and each giver thanked.
10. Make changes slowly but persistently. Don't try to change everything and everybody all at once. The resistance will make you feel defeated and lonely.
For more help and a free catalog of ideas, contact Alternatives for Simple Living at 800-821-6153.©1997 Alternatives for Simple Living. Used by permission.
* Brainstorming 2007*
Of course, a calendar is always a great gift to give.
You can give them to all ages. It is also a gift that people remember you by each time they look at it ,and for an extra special idea , you can add birthdays , holidays ,and special days to the calendar that are tailored to the recipient ! How about including dates to get together for coffee?
These calendars are from Enchanted Learning , a site intended for children , but I love the pictures ! Maybe you or your loved one will too.
A to Z Calendars to print out and decorate
This calendar is for the whole family to enjoy . You could put it in the kitchen and use a different colored pencil or marker to show everyone's schedules.
2008 Calendar by Jan Brett - very nice
Coffee/tea candles
A good way to use old mugs or even punch cups is to set a few cups on a tray, each one containing store bought votives (normally it takes two). Set the tray in the oven on 250 degrees F and let the candles melt. Remove one of the wicks and leave the other one. As the candle begins to cool, straighten the wick up into the center.
There you have it. A lovely handmade gift for about a dollar! (Cups can be purchased at thrift shop most often for 25 cents or watch for them at rummage sales!)
By melody_yesterday from Sedalia, Missouri -tea-cup candle
I suggest also trying to find pretty flowered teacups to use and glueing some lace to the teaplate that comes with the cup and then putting the candle on the plate ( but don't glue so that they can take the cup off to light and use over if they would like).
Cookie of the Month or Season ( Fall , Winter, Spring ,Summer)
How about giving a coupon for a cookie/muffin/pie/cake/homemade..... for each month or season with a special bonus of an item on their birthday ?
Or for shut-ins , Grandpa and Grandma , or long-distance friends a card and letter of the month?
Ideas for giving cookie and baked good gifts.
These can be for a one-time use or you can pick up the container for the next months installment.
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Buy a paint can (new) from the paint store.
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Decorate a white paper lunch bag with clippings/stickers/marker/stamping decorations to match the month.
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Shoe or boot box line with foil and put cookies in neat rows.
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Put on a pretty plate from thethrift store or garage sale and cover with holiday theme plastic wrap.
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Use the same idea with baskets fromthe thrift store .( I have collected these all year on ½ off days at my local Goodwill. I spent about a total of $7 for 15 baskets . These are top quality and some arefrom that expensive – multi-level-marketing-in – home –basket organization)
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Get Chinese take out boxes . Not from a party store , but from restaurants . You will get a much better price.Maybe even free if you don't ask for many boxes !
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Pizza trays from the dollar store. You could even bake a huge cookie right on the tray and then cool and wrap !
Gift in a soup can/food box
I got one of those one touch can openers(use only this kind of opener Other openers create very sharp edges-sl). I took a good size can, opened it on the bottom, filled it with candy, a scarf, socks, etc. I then glued the bottom back on and, Ta Da!: a can of "soup". Their expression is priceless. You could also try putting a shirt in a cereal box for a gift.
By Keeper from NC Mts. -soup can gift
Soothing bath
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 2 cups powdered milk
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl before transferring to a decorative bottle. Attach a gift tag with these directions: "Oatmeal Milk Bath" Add a generous amount to warm water running bath water. Soak, reax and enjoy.
By Jan from Suring, WI- Calming bath
I suggest adding lavender and chamomile that you have powdered in the blender to this mix. You can get them for a low price in bulk at your local health food store .-soulight
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THE BRAINSTORMING OVERFLOWED INTO AN ADDITIONAL PAGE More gift ideas for low costor no cost gifts are in the left sidebar. (Find the present.)
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*CHRISTMAS CHARITY LINKS
An idea if you have missed cut off times for Christmas Charities :
NO MONEY FOR CHRISTMAS AN IDEA
Another idea if you have missed any deadline for applying for charities is to contact the local mayor's office for assitance ,as they usually have a program too. (Thank you Elaine of TSA for this idea!)
REQUEST A TOY FROM TOYS FOR TOTS
ANGEL TREE CONTACTS (FOR FAMILIES WITH LOVED ONES IN PRISON))
TREES FOR TROOPS-FREE CHRISTMAS TREES FOR MILITARY FAMILIES IN THE US AND ABROAD
This program is connected to the Trees for Troops program listed directly above. As mentioned before , I do not support the idea of Santa being the center of Christmas. However , this is another good and worthy program that assists people in living a stable life :
Help Santa Find the Perfect Real Christmas Tree Contest
Together with Santa, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation is looking for kids who want to help keep the SPIRIT of Christmas alive and well. Santa is looking for the perfect Christmas tree, and the kids who help him find it can win $5,000 to $10,000 college scholarships, or fun family trips to Orlando or other prizes. Since 2004, thousands of kids have participated by taking a photo of their family next to their Christmas Tree and explaining in a short essay or story "why the tree was perfect or special to them."
(NOTE: the 2007 Contest Entry Form will be posted here later in the year -it is not yet listed , but keep checking.)
FIND THE PERFECT REAL CHRISTMAS TREE CONTEST
A Christmas assistance program for single moms , the Single Rose Angel program grows and grows every year it is offered . Make sure you sign up as soon as possible !
SINGLE ROSE ANGEL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FOR SINGLE MOMS)
SERVICES PROVIDED by many Salvation Army locations .
PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL Salvation Army to find out what they offer.
Thanksgiving Meal Delivery
Adopt-A-Family
Dress-A-Child
Toy & Joy Store
Christmas Food Distribution
Emergency Assistance
SALVATION ARMY LOCATION FINDER
Although I do not believe in highlighting santa as the main theme of Christmas, I realize that in some families, the children may be taught that santa is real. Here is an organization that I support for their efforts to help others at Christmas time. Please take note: I am not sure if this is a state(s) organization or if it is national.
Mission Statement
Santa's Children Christmas Village is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children in crisis to aid in their recovery, especially those with a life-threatening illness or a chronic medical condition, and those in distress because of acute poverty or homelessness. Santa visits homes, hospitals, emergency care facilities, and Santa's Village to bring gifts and encouragement to children. Santa's Children Christmas Village works with fire departments and with other charitable organizations with similar missions to provide gifts, clothing, and wholesome activities for children in crisis, along with their families and caregivers.
Do you have a loved one or friend in an institution such as a hospital or nursing home ?
This is a great source for you to access.
The Holiday Project's
mission is to enrich the experience of the holidays by arranging visits to people confined to nursing homes, hospitals and other institutions
Each year, more than three million people spend their holidays confined to institutions, 60% never receive visitors
http://www.holiday-project.org/
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MORE CHRISTMAS HELP IF YOU ARE TRULY NEEDY THIS YEAR
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This is an additional , complete page , of more places to go for assistance this Christmas. Please don't try to scam anyone here. They have heard and seen it all ,and you will be screened. On the other hand , if you truly need help , these people have the hearts to be there for you and your familiy.
MORE IDEAS FOR ASSISTANCE THIS YEAR- help for families that are truly needy
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BACK TO 3 PAGES OF CHRISTMAS : FREE , VERY LOW COST IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS . PLUS WHERE TO GO FOR HELP 2006-2007-2008
CHRISTMAS DIRECTORY 2006-2007-2008
