CS Time!
Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? … Socks for Uncle Bill, that cute figurine for Grandma … Why not consider something original this year? What about “Gifts Beyond Giving”? What about a share in a goat for Uncle Bill (he has always loved animals), or a share in some fruit trees for Grandma (in thanks for those wonderful apple pies she bakes)!
Original! Yes, and something that will show Christ’s love to someone far away as well. Check out the new “Gifts for Life” catalog from Episcopal Relief and Development in the narthex of the church for more amazing ideas.
Some of the gifts are so simple and provide services we take for granted:
Clean water $35 per person
School lunch (and maybe breakfast too!) $15 per child
Baby care, (lifesaving immunizations, vitamins and medicines) $50 per infant
Roving health clinic (health services for those far from a city) $15 per person, $150 for 10 people
With regard to Uncle Bill’s goat, maybe he would prefer a cow or pig… Maybe Grandma would like to help provide a flock of chickens or ducks or a share in a community garden … There are more ideas, some less expensive, some more, including gifts to whole communities.
Did you know that if many of the treated mosquito nets ($12) are used in a village that the mosquito population declines as does the incidence of malaria? (By the way, it isn’t just the net this gift supplies but also training in how to use the nets as well as providing care for those persons suffering from malaria.)
Perhaps parents or grandparents could look at the catalog together with their children and, after the budget guidelines are set, have the children help select the gift(s) your family could send.
For a tangible gift in hand for someone on your list, (or a treat for yourself) the Bishop’s Blend Coffee and Tea is now available to order.
These are fair-traded products, the coffee is shade-grown as well so no tropical rain-forest has been removed to grow the coffee! (On a personal note, I gave some to my daughter and two older grandsons last year. They are all coffee-lovers and commented separately how very good the dark roast is!)
There you have it; ideas for that CS list, items that will give twice. That’s money spent meaningfully!!
Mary Cartwright