Teach your kids to give back this holiday season

(NC)—Everyone knows the holidays are a time for giving to family and friends; however, it’s important to teach children about the multiple benefits of charitable giving as well.

Habitat for Humanity Canada offers three charitable giving tips to help teach your children the importance of giving back this holiday season:

1 Make giving a family affair—Should you decide to donate to a charity, involve your children in the decision-making process, so that they too can see that there is a thoughtful and clear manner in which you make contributions to charities. Volunteering as a family is another great idea and a way for you to spend more time together.

2 Give a gift to your community—A great way to show your children how to give is by making a donation to a charity that positively impacts your community. One way to do this is by supporting Habitat for Humanity Canada’s 360 Built Smart Partnership—a program designed to support local Habitat for Humanity offices to help them build sustainable communities.

3 Give time and money—Almost every charity will appreciate a donation of time instead of, or in addition to, a monetary donation.

More information on how you and your family can make a contribution this holiday season can be found at www.habitat.ca.

www.newscanada.com

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How you can help children of incarcerated parents during the holidays

(ARA) – Drug abuse. Divorce. Homelessness. Imprisonment. Little Forrest has witnessed them all. With his father in prison and his mom lost in a haze of drug abuse, Forrest’s maternal grandparents took custody of him when he was just 2 years old. For Forrest, his dad’s prison sentence seemed like a punishment for him, too.

Due to his difficult start in life, Forrest had many behavioral issues, so his grandparents worked hard every day to provide him with love and stability he needed. But as Christmas neared, Forrest’s grandmother Bonnie began to worry. If Forrest’s mom didn’t visit, or his dad didn’t call, Forrest’s behavior would regress.

Forrest’s struggles are not uncommon. One in three prisoners is a parent, and about 75 percent of women in prison are mothers. One in every 43 children has a parent in prison, which means more than 1.7 million children will spend Christmas separated from their incarcerated mom or dad.

“Every time a parent goes to prison, their sentence is also a form of punishment for their children. These kids don’t necessarily understand why their parents are not with them for the holidays. They only want to be with their parents, and to feel their parents’ love, just as any other child would during this special time of year,” says Jim Liske, CEO of Prison Fellowship, a nonprofit organization that helps inmate rehabilitation.

Children whose parents are serving time struggle every day with feelings of anger, abandonment, loneliness and despair. But a simple Christmas gift from their incarcerated parent can show a hurting child that they are still loved, and that the parent-child connection can survive the separation of imprisonment.

Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree is a unique program that works by connecting parents in prison with their children through the delivery of Christmas gifts. At such a critical time in Forrest’s journey, Angel Tree connected him with his father – helping to make sure that he stayed on a path toward healing and stability.

“We got a call that Forrest’s dad was sending Christmas gifts through Angel Tree,” Bonnie says. “It was just so nice to have people supporting us.”

Today, Forrest’s mother is working on turning her life around and restoring her relationship with her son. Forrest’s dad will be released from prison soon. He, too, has vowed to turn his life around and be a faithful father.

Support Angel Tree by “liking” Angel Tree on Facebook. You can even give a secure gift through the charity’s official website at www.angeltree.org. Just $12.58 will help deliver a Christmas present to not one, but two lonely children thanks to a matching grant.

Your generosity makes it possible for children like Forrest to feel remembered and loved this holiday season. Make a difference in the life of a child by giving them an unforgettable Christmas filled with joy and hope.

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A Merry Gretzky Christmas

(NC)—For generations, Canadians have been celebrating the holidays with family and friends. And for generations, Canadians have been sending out Christmas Seals with their holiday greetings and gifts as a way of showing how much they care.

Canada’s favourite hockey dad, Walter Gretzky, is the 2011 Christmas Seals ambassador for the Ontario Lung Association. As the head of one of Canada’s best known families, Walter and the Gretzky clan enjoy the season’s holidays at the family farm outside of Brantford, Ontario. Favourite holiday traditions include a friendly game of pick up on the outdoor rink and a plate of delicious perogies, made with Walter’s mom’s European recipe.

The Gretzky family has been personally touched by lung disease. Phyllis Gretzky, Walter’s wife of 45 years, died from lung disease in 2005. “Losing Phyllis was very, very difficult,” says Walter. “She was the glue in our family, my rock. Promoting lung health helps keep her memory alive for us. She always preferred staying in the background supporting Wayne, the family and me.

“By doing this, I get to move Phyllis to the forefront and tell people how special she was to our family.”

Since 1908, The Lung Association has produced the seals to help raise funds for its programs to improve lung health. Each year, about eight million Christmas Seals are used by Canadians to seal the back of envelopes sent out to family and friends and to decorate Christmas gifts and parcels.

Lung disease affects more than 2.4 million Ontarians. This year when your Christmas Seals arrive in the mail, it is your opportunity to give generously. For more information on Christmas Seals or lung health, visit www.on.lung.ca or call 1-866-333-4045.

www.newscanada.com

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Tips for creating meaningful new holiday traditions

(ARA) – Holidays are a great time to celebrate traditions with family and friends, and every family has unique activities they love to observe year after year. You can incorporate new traditions into the holidays to bring more memorable fun to your gatherings. Here are some simple tips for creating meaningful new traditions that can bring joy to your holidays every year.

* Organize a visit from Santa. Encourage your family or friends to come over for a potluck breakfast or lunch. As the festivities get into full swing, invite Santa to join in the fun. Organize goodie bags for children to take home from Santa. Don’t forget to have a camera on hand to capture the children’s special moments.

* Build a gingerbread house with your family. Roll up your sleeves, start your oven and put your architecture skills to the test. Decorate the house with each family member’s favorite candies in all colors. Adorn the lawn with Archway Gingerbread Men, which can be easily decorated with icing and candy buttons.

* Draw names and trade inexpensive gifts. You can turn this into a secret Santa exchange, or for a little more fun and hilarity, turn the exchange into a white elephant party, where participants are allowed to “steal” inexpensive gifts from one another. Your party doesn’t have to only involve your local friends and family. Invite your friends from all over the country to participate in a gift exchange via Skype or email – it’s a great way to have something fun pop up in your mailbox over the holiday season.

* Cookies are a part of many holiday traditions. In fact, a recent holiday survey conducted by Archway found that cookies are a part of more than 80 percent of respondents’ traditions each year. Incorporate cookies into new traditions by hosting a cookie exchange with your coworkers, neighbors, family members or friends. Use a mix of homemade and favorite Archway holiday cookies such as Bells and Stars, which are back by popular demand for the 2011 holiday season.

* Give back to your community. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen. Sing holiday carols in nursing homes and senior centers. Organize a food drive for your local food bank. Have young children go through their toys and pick one or two to donate to a local shelter. This will help children participate in the joy of giving. There are a lot of ways you and your family can help others. You might decide to do the same thing each year or come up with new ways to give back.

* Create a video or online photo album. This tradition is especially poignant for families with loved ones who are away for the season and unable to attend the family celebrations (for example, families with someone in the military). Set up a video camera and have everyone share a message for the absent loved one. Take lots of photos during your holiday celebrations and create a photo album online that can be accessed by those who are not present.

Traditions help provide connection and predictability, which people – especially children – crave. And they’re a lot of fun. Just remember that whatever you decide to do, be sure to add your own flair and creativity to make the tradition truly one to remember.

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A different holiday perspective: It's the little things that matter most

(ARA) – The “magic” of the holiday season across the U.S. seems to arrive earlier and earlier each year, and so by late October, many store shelves are already stocked and awaiting excited shoppers. Families snap up Rudolph figures with light-up noses, jolly Santas for front porch displays, and whimsical decorations with which to deck the halls. About that same time, giddy children begin contemplating their gift lists, trying to decide which technology gadget or must-have pair of shoes should go on top. Menus are set, families plan travel and the expectation of a prosperous New Year looms.

And although the holidays are undoubtedly a meaningful and special occasions for those in fortunate situations, it’s easy to take for granted that family, gifts and a warm meal will be a part of the celebration.

Chicago-based charitable organization Friends of the Orphans, which supports the network of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”) homes in nine Latin American and Caribbean countries, knows that for the 3,700 children currently in the NPH family, the holidays have a deeper meaning not rooted in extravagant material gifts. Because of all they have endured, these kids have unique perspectives on what the simple pleasures of celebrating the holidays, and every day, mean.

Sadrak, a 6-year-old boy from Haiti who is now a part of NPH’s Angels of Light program which helps disadvantaged children through day camps and food programs, says, “I am from a very poor family so my parents couldn’t afford gifts. But, my parents never wanted me to know that, so they helped me make my own toys – like a car from a tomato sauce can.” This year, however, he is excited about the NPH celebration planned and said, “I can’t wait for Christmas to arrive, and to see what Santa Claus might bring!”

Silvia, 18, lost her mother at age 12, and due to her father’s extreme poverty, came to NPH Peru to live soon after her mother’s death. In the past, Silvia often ate only a single, sparse meal a day, but her years at NPH have transformed her. “There is nothing that we lack. We are supported and helped in every aspect of life.”

She adds, “My hope for Christmas is to be able to finish high school and start university so I can have a good profession.”

Mabelyn, an 11-year-old girl from Guatemala, has been at NPH since age 6. And while she vaguely remembers holiday celebrations at home before circumstances dictated that her father send her to NPH, her holidays with her new family have been memorable. “When I think of gifts, I would give a gift to my best friend Lupe, who lives at NPH with me. My wish for Christmas would be to do well in school and complete middle school.”

Probably the most poignant wish and one that demonstrates the perspective many of these children have about the holiday comes from 10-year-old Esmeralda from NPH Mexico. She simply said, “My wish would be to help the little children in the world that don’t have a home.”

“The biggest lesson we all can learn from these children is how to take a deep breath and express simple gratitude, especially around Christmas, for even the smallest things,” says John Iberle, interim executive director of Friends of the Orphans. “As a prosperous country with so much at our fingertips, many of us tend to take things for granted. These children don’t. To them, being able to help others, the potential to better themselves in school, or just the arrival of the holiday and the promise of Santa Claus fills them with joy and appreciation.”

Friends of the Orphans is quick to point out that the love and support they provide these children to make their holidays memorable is due to the generosity of supporters from around the world. This year, they have created a unique and memorable way donors can help children in need, especially during the holiday season. The 2011 Gift Catalog, at www.friendsoftheorphans.org/GiftCatalog, allows visitors to learn about the special celebrations in each NPH home, and through donations either in their own names or on behalf of others, provides useful and appreciated gifts to the children.

For more information about Friends of the Orphans, please visit www.friendsoftheorphans.org.

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Full Sized Prancer Warmer - Perfect for the Holidays!

I’m new to the world of Scentsy but I love it.  It is so lovely and makes my home smell wonderfully delicious.  That is truly saying a lot as I have three dogs that live indoors and sometimes, bless their hearts, they stink up the joint.  Another great thing about Scentsy is they offer a wonderful variety of smells made just for the Holidays.  Here are a list of my favorite Holiday scents:

Festival of Trees - Dance in a forest of evergreens as fir needles fall amongst aromatic white cedar and musk, with a wintry whisper of citrus.  I have never been a fan of Pine-type scents because they remind me too much of cleansers; however, this is very pleasant and mild.  The citrus and the musk take the edge off the fir and it creates a heavenly and inviting aroma. 

Christmas Cottage - A cozy, inviting blend of Valencia oranges, raspberries, cloves, and spices.  If I had to describe this in one word it would be DELICIOUS!  It’s spicy, it’s crisp and it is the perfect scent to usher in the Holidays. 

Cinnamon Vanilla -  Inviting blend of vanilla beans, cinnamon, coconut and cassia.  A classic scent that is indicative of Holiday baking.  It will remind you of Christmas at Grandma’s house. 

Sentimental Cider - Rich, musky apple cider infused with heady allspice and star anise.   Apple is cider is my favorite Holiday beverage and this Scentsy offering warms me all over. 

Whiteout - Exhilarating blast of cool peppermint and sweet, golden apple, blanketed over frosty winter pine.  Fresh, cool and invigorating just like a trek through the snow!

Scentsy has many other Holiday scents but these are just a few of my favorites.  They also make great Christmas gifts for the candle lover in your life.

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Teach children about the holiday spirit

“What would you like for Christmas?” This question, whether it comes from Grandma or the jolly man in red, seems easy enough. But as the options multiply and the shopping frenzy escalates, the answer becomes more and more complicated… and expensive! It is important to help children put the holiday season into perspective.

Parents should take a look at how they are spending money and time this holiday season. If their list is more about expensive gifts, party clothes and concerts. Think about deliberately cutting something back.

Make time for the pleasures of family this Christmas: skating on an outdoor rink, baking and decorating Christmas cookies, driving around town to look at Christmas decorations, or, calling a snow day and staying home for a movie marathon. This creates traditions that children will remember.

Helping somebody less fortunate is an important reality check for the whole family. One Canadian family uses the World Vision Gift Catalogue (worldvision.ca/gifts) to help a child in need. “We give each of our children some money to choose a gift from the catalogue,” says Lucie, of Montreal. “They not only practice an act of kindness, but they learn about how other children live. It helps them appreciate everything they’ve got.”

Great holiday ideas are habit-forming. So why just save them for the holidays? Going easy on the expenses, investing in fun family time, and remembering people who are less fortunate are lifestyle choices.

www.newscanada.com

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Creative packaging carries the holiday spirit

(ARA) – ‘Tis the season for wrapping, sending and giving holiday gifts to family and friends. This year, make your wrapping and packaging as memorable as the gift itself. With these simple, easy tips, you can add extra-special touches to your presents – and have fun doing it.

Add charisma to plain packaging by decorating with printed packaging tapes and unique package fillers. In a variety of new designs, EZ Start Printed Packaging Tapes from Duck brand (duckbrand.com) can transform the ordinary exterior of a brown or white box into an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind present.

Match the style of the box’s exterior with creative fillers on the interior. The fillers will hold the gift in place and add an element of surprise. Use your imagination to pick packaging fillers that will help build the anticipation of opening the gift. Fillers can range from houseware items to edibles.

Not sure how to combine these ideas to create the most appealing package? Try the following suggestions to make your own unique holiday gift wrapping:

* Match a printed packaging tape to the theme of your present. Wrap a box holding a stuffed animal with EZ Start’s Pink Zebra print or send a nostalgic present decorated with the Tie Dye print … the options are endless.

* Sending a holiday care package to a loved one in the military or a long distance friend? Help it stand out among the rest by sealing it with EZ Start’s Cinnamon Snow or Reindeer Games seasonal packaging tape prints. They’ll be sure to open yours first.

* Wrap your gift with a gift. A cuddly baby blanket can cover a new toy or book. A decorative dishtowel can conceal a piece of new cookware and an inexpensive scarf can beautifully disguise a jewelry box. It’s two presents in one.

* Wrap a present with pages from a gossip magazine or newspaper to help a student away at school stay current on the latest news, styles or their favorite celebrities.

* Use uniquely textured fillers such as colorful buttons, felt cutouts or crinkle fabric. A quick trip to a DIY home center or craft store can help spark your imagination and add sparkle to your gifts.

* Make your gift even sweeter with candy. Colorful M&Ms or Skittles will be an added bonus for any gift recipient with a sweet tooth.

* For environmentally conscious gift givers, go green and wrap your presents using eco-friendly shipping products such as recycled boxes made from renewable resources and biodegradable peanuts.

Don’t be afraid to use your imagination, take risks and be bold when decorating holiday packages this season. The added creativity is simple, fun, exciting and always appreciated.

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This year, consider some new ways to give good gifts while also supporting the issues most important to you, your friends and your family.

The holidays are always a time for giving, not only of gifts to family and friends, but also to organizations supporting different causes. This year, consider some new ways to give good gifts while also supporting the issues most important to you, your friends and your family.

One way to shop for gifts while supporting important causes is through eBay Giving Works, eBay’s program for charity listings. The program has helped raise more than $150 million for over 15,000 deserving nonprofits worldwide through buying and selling activity on eBay.

On www.ebaygivingworks.com you will find thousands of listings for the perfect gifts that benefit your recipients’ favorite charitable organizations. The possibilities span the gamut of popular items such as brand new skis, jewelry, the latest handbags or electronics, everyday home and garden items to even one-of-a-kind celebrity experiences. And, each charity listing stands out with a unique blue and yellow charity ribbon, so look for this ribbon on eBay when shopping.

Another great way to shop for the people on your list and find good gifts that have a positive impact on people and the environment is through a new marketplace called WorldofGood.com. The site is a one-stop-shop where consumers will find eco-friendly and ethically sourced products, which make distinctive holiday gifts. Holiday shoppers can find organic clothing, accessories and home decor items made from recycled materials, animal-friendly beauty products and even fair trade coffee and chocolate on the site … all perfect ideas for those recipients who seem to have everything or are hard to buy for.

Many of the products on WorldofGood.com are created from recycled, reclaimed and/or sustainable materials. For example, shop for stylish earrings created from vintage bicycle parts, colorful baskets woven from telephone wire, or living room furniture crafted from reclaimed wood, and reduce the impact on our environment with gifts that make use of materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill.

Other gift ideas from the site include unique items such as beautiful scarves and sweaters knitted by Andean women from the hillsides of Peru and gorgeous ceramics created by artisan sculptors from the mountains of Nepal. Giving a gift from WorldofGood.com enables artisans and producers all over the world to provide for their families, preserve cultural traditions and sustain the environment we all live in. Because these artisans are able to earn a fair wage for their products, they receive improved access to good jobs, health care and education.

Make www.ebaygivingworks.com and WorldofGood.com your go-to destinations for everyone on your holiday shopping list, so that you can give good this season and make a positive impact on the world.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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The more you give, the better you may feel, and that means finding ways to give back throughout the year.

The holidays are the season for giving and during times of economic downturn, you may have to dig a bit deeper into your pockets. However, you can still end up better off. In addition to the tax breaks year-end giving can bring, as it turns out, giving is also good for your health.

“Several studies over the years have found links between altruistic behavior and improved physical and psychological health,” says Dr. Ann Vincent, an internal medicine physician at Mayo Clinic who researches the mind-body connection. “In general, I think altruism makes people feel better about themselves, which often translates into improved physical health. Other benefits that have been attributed to positive emotions include: enhanced creativity and ability to cope with stress and broadened cognition. In essence, thinking positively about ourselves is good for our physical and mental health.”

But the benefits of giving, whether in the form of volunteerism or making a donation, aren’t just a one-time deal. The more you give, the better you may feel, and that means finding ways to give back throughout the year. Generosity is also a wonderful survival skill to help you get through difficult times in your life.

“Recent studies have examined individuals who have survived trauma, natural disasters and being prisoners of war,” says Dr. Edward T. Creagan, an oncologist at Mayo Clinic. According to Creagan, people who seem to thrive in adversity have many characteristics in common, but especially a few:

* A sense of connectedness. The recognition that family and community are crucial to survival.
* A sense of altruism, somehow sharing of themselves to make the lives of others a little bit better.
* An optimistic attitude and sense of humor.

If you have trouble motivating yourself to give time, money or goods, focus on how giving back can benefit you. “There is a ‘helper’s high’ that people sometimes say they feel in connection with altruism/philanthropy,” says Vincent. “But that initial euphoria is also sometimes followed by a longer-lasting period of improved emotional well-being.”

Philanthropy can also have positive effects that help people maintain or improve their physical and mental health. It often creates broader social networks, which can help people cope with stress and anxiety, and it can provide a sense of purpose and empowerment.

The emotional and physical benefits of philanthropy may be even more significant right now. Nonprofit organizations everywhere are increasingly looking for charitable individuals to partner with them in their goals for the future. Mayo Clinic, a not-for-profit organization, is one of the world’s premier medical treatment and research facilities and is currently conducting a campaign to transform patient care, research and education. The gifts they receive now are an investment in future generations of those needing medical care and those studying medicine.

For more information on how giving can make a life-changing impact, visit www.mayoclinic.org/campaign.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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