Most of you have probably heard of the Samaritan’s Purse: Operation Christmas Child project. Essentially, you fill a shoe box with necessities like school supplies, hygiene items, and toys for children around the world who may not have the opportunity to afford or experience Christmas. Although the National Collection week (November 21-27) is over, you can still donate online or pack a shoebox online.
Recently I discovered another  organization, which is local, called Joi to the World. When I first heard of the it, I initially thought it was another organization like Operation Christmas Child. Although they are similar in the fact that they donate shoeboxes to people who can’t otherwise celebrate Christmas, Joi to the World allows you to donate shoeboxes to any age group. Some of the organizations that they give shoeboxes to are Inn from the Cold and the Mustard Seed. I think this is a great opportunity to give more to people who need it more than your closet (I think 50 shirts is enough for a person)!
In addition to giving gifts, the Calgary Drop-In Centre has a wish list of the homeless who participate in the program. If you want to personally fulfill someone’s wishes during Christmas, you can visit the website right now!
So if you have a huge Christmas bonus coming up and you don’t know what to do with all that extra cash laying around, maybe spend some time searching for gifts and spending a little bit for someone else. That’s what the season of giving means, right?
