Monday, December 2, 2013

Showing Holiday Spirit by Giving Back #cbias #shop

home made cards, walmart, giving back at christmas

As a mother, it is important to me to teach my children about giving back. I want them to grow up being kind and generous to others, both friends and strangers.  I want them to understand that the little things we do CAN make a big difference in someone's life.  There have been times where I have been on the receiving end of a random act of kindness in a drive thru line, and it has made me smile - and sometimes even turned my day around!

When we go out to play in the snow or shovel our driveway, it fills my heart to see my kids running over to our neighbours to shovel their front walk
#shop shoveling neighbours


Other ways we teach them about giving back are adding food to the donation bins when we do our grocery shopping. At Christmas, we donate toys and food to a local initiative to help families in our area that don't have food for Christmas dinner or gifts for under the tree.  Even something as simple as saying hello with a smile to people you pass on the street.

This year I wanted to add something else. We went to our local Walmart store to purchase supplies, and then we came home to make cards and treats. We made these cards so that we could visit a local nursing home and brighten the day of a few of the residents that may not have family or friends to visit them.

Walmart, giving back, cbias, card making
Construction paper, scissors and glue purchased at Walmart
 We had a snow day (the buses were cancelled) so we took some time together and set to work. No phone, no computer, no video games - just us getting crafty at the kitchen table! We had Christmas music playing in the background, we were chatting about different types of designs we could add (snowmen, Christmas tree's and more) and being messy and creative!
card making, #shop, #cbias
Mr. K hard at work decorating one of his cards

#shop giving back card making
They wanted to make a Christmas Tree card!

We had a lot of fun with our activity, and really looked forward to delivering the cards to a local seniors home. We then decided that we would bake some treats to go along with the cards!

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

Ingredients
- Devils Food Cake Mix
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup of shortening

#shop chocolate christmas cookies
unsure of original recipe source


Once the cookies were cooled, we packed them in a container and headed off to the retirement home.  

#shop #cbias cards and cookies
Cards and Cookies all ready to go

#shop
Mr. J showing off one of his snow men cards


#shop #cbias
arriving at the retirement home
When we entered, we were greeted by Morgan at the desk, and a beautiful Christmas tree in the lobby.

#shop

We told Morgan why were there, and she said that she would be happy to hand out the cards and cookies to the residents!  Then we asked if we could take her picture to include with our post.

We are hoping that our afternoon of craftiness and baking will help to put a smile on some faces of others, and after completing our activity will add it as an annual tradition!  What do you to give back in your community?

23 comments:

  1. I love to give back to the community during the Holidays. My family and I just donated zebra print blankets to the homeless shelter last weekend. We also like to visit nursing homes on Christmas eve and just spend time with some of the senior citizens that have no one coming to see them. It makes me happy that my kids look forward to going every year, even my older kids still enjoy giving back.

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    1. Thanks for your comment! I am sure those blankets will come in very handy at this time of year. Have a wonderful Christmas

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  2. God Bless you and your kids for taking the cookies and cards to the elderly in the nursing home! They really appreciate all your hard work, and it is so good to teach children how to give. You sure had a lot of snow where you are, and how sweet your son is to get out his shovel and help out! You are an inspiration to me!

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    1. Awww, thank you for your kind words, very sweet of you to say. Yes, we had over 20cm that day, and a few more added since!

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  3. You should feel very proud, your family is bringing happiness to seniors and your adorable boys are learning about the joy of giving!

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    1. Thanks Monica - I certainly hope that they keep the spirit of giving alive as they get older!

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  4. I love the kind deed you and the kids performed in your neighbourhood. It will definitely bring joy to the residents of the retirement home. Good for you!

    Jenna

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    1. thanks so much Jenna! I really hope it rubs off on the kids and they continue on their own!

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  5. This is absolutely wonderful!! Your teaching great values to your children! Amazing!

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  6. What a wonderful way to teach your kids about giving back to their community. I love how they made their own cards to give to the residents instead of using bought ones. This is wonderful!

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    1. Oh yes, we needed to do hand made cards....just a little more personal!

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  7. That is SO wonderful!! I love when families and kids visit the retirement homes - it brings so much joy to the residents :)

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  8. Love this idea of spreading cheer to seniors as sometimes that are forgotten at this time of year!

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    1. It's so sad sometimes that they may not have anyone to visit with

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  9. How sweet is that, it's the little things in life that make the difference.

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  10. We bake bread for our neighbours. This year we picked up some Tim's cards and my son made little cards for them. We keep them in the car for when we see people who need a little boost during the season.

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    1. I love fresh bread! What a wonderful thing to do as a RAOK!

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  11. love it! when I worked at a nursing home I saw people who never had a visitor all year, whey would love this. adina

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