Wider Giving

Giving to the poorest of the poor is an ancient Christmas tradition. The importance of opening our hearts to those less fortunate than ourselves is the point of many of our most beloved Christmas stories and songs. There's A Christmas Carol, of course. And Good King Wenceslaus said - "Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing."

If you ask around, you will find many creative ways people in our congregation share their treasure with others - in the city and across the world.

Ideally, we would be connected with all the people we give to, the people we pray for; we would seek to know and understand them. Unfortunately, there is always a risk in making donations, especially on behalf of recipients across the world, that your donation will not reach its intended destination or fulfull its intended purpose. This is a reality of our busy and complex world, but perhaps that is a limitation that can be transcended with faithful perseverence. The list below is a sharing of possibilities, not a thoroughly researched endorsement of any particular organization. We can only recommend that you check out any charity as much as possible before making a donation.

One of the newer ways of giving is offered by Christmas Future. Find out more about them at: http://www.christmasfuture.org/

NEWS FLASH: On Sunday, November 18, Jay Baydala of Christmas Future was at Hillhurst United. After church, he discussed his own experience with the organization, which is described on its website as being "a passionate movement of people empowering a non-profit organization that advances us – all of us – everyday closer to eradicating extreme poverty."

World Vision has a gift catalogue which has ideas for how individuals and groups can give concrete assistance to others; some of these can work as familiy or group activities. This is a very suitable format for making a charitable donation in someone else's name as a gift to both. The website is: www2.worldvision.ca/gifts/app

World Vision's website at worldvision.ca has lots of other ideas, too. At least one congregation member is a longtime supporter of World Vision, and may be able to provide more information.

Kiva.org is another really interesting way to leverage Christmas giving. Kiva is actually a web interface between lender and lendee and facilitates wonderful microfinance, allowing the 'fisher' to buy his or her own 'rod' and 'net' and develop a proper business. The lender does not receive interest, but the principal is fully repaid over time. Then the money can be re-loaned and re-loaned and re-loaned... http://www.kiva.org/

Spread the Net is an organization that aims to stop the spread of malaria by distributing mosquito nets in Africa. You can buy the nets for $10.00 each. More explained here: www.spreadthenet.org/c_learn_malaria_en.aspx

Ten Thousand Villages (mentioned in the "Gifts to Buy" section as a source of fair trade items) has a Living Gift Festival which kicks off on November 24. They provide a selection of items to donate in someone's name, and cards that explain the donation. They also run a school kits campaign, which donates items gathered specifically for a child; this is another very concrete way children can be involved in wider giving.

Here's the link for Canada Food for the Hungry's 2007 Christmas Catalogue

http://www.cfhi.ca/Gifts;jsessionid=0a0004471f4310287d42c7644ee6b724c7df9f043199.e3iKaNePch4Re34Pa38Ta38Pbh50

Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan is one of the most interesting groups around. They provide an opportunity to give gift donations or just donations, see http://www.w4wafghan.ca/

The World Wildlife Fund has interesting 'adopt a species' gifts:
http://www.wwf.ca/HowYouCanHelp/PandaStore/PandaStore.asp