1gift4good

Sometimes, it only takes one act of generosity, one gesture of kindness to change someone’s life.  A pair of hockey skates to join the team. Shovelling a sidewalk. A small donation towards a well in Africa. That’s how we live in community.

By the end of December, Chanukah will have seen eight nights of gifts and fine food.  Christmas trees across Canada will have seen presents piled underneath them. Our holiday spending just keeps going up. But we can’t say the same for our other-centred giving.

And yet, in the true spirit of the season no matter what tradition you hold, shouldn’t that be as front and centre, and wrapped with as much care, as the new IPod Touch or remote-control car beside the menorah or under the tree? That’s the heart of the 1gift4good Challenge.  Come up with a gift – for your spouse, your kids, your parents – that will help someone else, and wrap it up, symbolically, for the day all the presents get opened.

Inside, they’ll find the true Spirit of the Holiday Season.

Advertisement

Isabelle Daoust’s 1gift4good

Changing someone’s life through the work of the Canadian Red Cross

Link

Ann Curry starts viral movement for 26 Acts of Kindness

Changing the world with acts of kindness

Link

The Importance of Teaching Children Kindness at a Very Young Age

After Newtown, a mother contemplates what she can do to promote peace rather than violence.  The Atlantic

Matthew Brown’s 1gift4good

Youth Formation and Vocation Missioner: Anglican Diocese of Ottawa gives 1gift4good through dailybreadproject.ca

Evan Solomon’s 1gift4good

Anchor of CBC News Network’s Power & Politics and CBC Radio One’s The House, Evan Solomon, gives 1gift4good through his volunteer work with Ottawa River Keepers.

1gift4good at Faith, Ottawa

During Advent, members at Faith Lutheran Church in Ottawa are recording their gifts on paper and placing them into the gift box on the altar  – a random act of kindness, letting someone else in line in front of you, yielding a sought-after parking spot to someone else, giving a cup of coffee to a homeless person, volunteering at the food bank, helping carry parcels for someone, spending extra time with a loved one, giving money to support an important mission, etc. Then, during the Christmas Eve and Day services, the gift box will be opened and some of these “gifts for good” will be read out (anonymously) – all to signify the unconditional character of gift-giving in Jesus’ name, and as our gift to the newborn Jesus.

Bishop Michael Pryse’s 1gift4good

1gift4good through the work of Canadian Lutheran World Relief

Poppy’s 1gift4good

Changing someone’s life with the gift of acceptance

Nonprofit Organization Management Director Jeff Pym’s 1gift4good

Changing Someone’s Life With One Act of Generosity
Canadian Physicians for Aid and Releif – cpar.ca

People in Leamington Celebrate 1gift4good

Pastor Thomas Mertz from Leamington was talking about 1gift4good in his sermon this past Sunday.  He encouraged the people that he serves to write down their 1gift4good moments on a piece of paper during the week and bring them to church to put in a box in the narthex.  The box will be opened at their New Year’s Day worship service.

What a great idea!