Giving a gift that gives back

Make the holidays even more enjoyable by making a difference in another person’s life.  By Jessica Lindsey

In the hustle and bustle of the season, it can be easy to miss out on the chance to show our families how good it can feel to help others.
An important thing to remember and emphasize to children is that no matter the size of the gift, what matters is the heart of the giver. Teaching children to love others and be willing to give with a servant's heart will help them understand that the best feeling comes not when they receive the gift they've been begging for, but rather when they realize that they've made a positive difference in someone else's life. Actually, it's a life lesson that many adults still need to be reminded of, and it definitely isn't easy.

There are countless ways to serve others as a family both locally and on a larger level. These are only a few of the opportunities your family could choose to take part in during the holiday season. We encourage you to jump on board with one of these or figure out another option that would fit your family's goal of giving to others this holiday season. Many of these organizations post “wish lists” online or can easily provide one when requested.

Support the Arts
Give a monetary donation in someone’s name, support a child who wants to participate in classes or donate items needed for day-to-day operation and performances. There are many opportunities for children to sing, dance, act and learn the art of music and theatre in the Wichita area. Choose the organization that has influenced your family or friends. Christian Youth Theatre (www.cytwichita.org/wishlist) and Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center (www.wctdc.com) are two non-profit groups in the area.

Charitable organizations
United Way of the Plains is an organization that oversees the funding for a variety of groups in Wichita and surrounding areas. At www.unitedwayplains.org there is an option to search for ways to volunteer, and information of donating in other ways. In addition to the website, United Way’s toll-free 2-1-1 phone line offers callers information of giving or receiving services year round.

Catholic Charities is the parent group to a large resource of services. Information on supporting Catholic Charities can be found at www.wkscatholiccharities.org where listings on the ways it is serving the community also are available.

Visit www.goodwill.org for it’s mission and ways to give back. Inter-Faith Ministries is a group that offers many opportunities for families to give back during the holidays and the rest of the year. Www.ifmnet.org provides information on the relief that the group offers, as well as ways to donate.
The Salvation Army is a well-known organization that supports families. The Salvation Army and JCPenney offer the local Angel Tree program where families can choose a paper angel and purchase the requested gifts listed on it for a local family. Information on the Angel tree and all of the other opportunities are listed online at www.usc.salvationarmy.org.

The American Red Cross is another well-known group that is always providing aid and receiving donations. Visit www.midwaykansas.redcross.org for the local chapter.

Give back to personal connections
One way to give back in a personal way is to donate in some form to groups, schools or organizations that you and your family have used over the years. Even if for a service you’ve paid for, consider donating toward a scholarship or donating supplies for other families who may be struggling to keep their children involved in the group.

Whether it be physical therapy services for a special-needs child, preschool classes, dance classes and speech therapy are just a few examples of services that are often cut from a family’s budget when money gets tight.

Has your family or someone you know been impacted by adoption, foster care services, pregnancy crisis services, complimentary medical care, senior services or any number of other services? Discuss with your family ways that they have been impacted over the past year or even over the past decade.

One way all of our families have been impacted is by those who serve in the military. Find information about Wichita’s Veteran’s Hospital, Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, at www.wichita.va.org.

Or consider giving to a local family who has a family member serving in the military. No matter what their financial status, families with a person serving in the military have a hole in their homes during the holidays. Maybe it isn’t anything more than a note of thanks, but it could make all the difference to a local family.

Give to schools
Even schools in large districts such as Wichita, Andover, Maize and Goddard have needs on a smaller scale. Budget cuts, consolidations and school closings are nightly news now. Consider donating items that are needed at the school your child attends or at a school in your neighborhood even if your child doesn’t attend there.

Children in need
The Wichita Children’s Home, www.wch.org, is Wichita’s oldest charitable institution.
Carpenter Place is a campus located in the heart of the city that provides residential treatment for girls in crisis. Find out more about Carpenter Place at www.carpenterplace.org.

The Kansas Food Bank is the centralized source for distribution of food for people in need. The Kansas Food Bank has a variety of different programs that help specific groups, including the Food-4-Kids program. Information can be found at www.kansasfoodbank.org.

GraceMed’s mission to supply affordable, high-quality medical and dental care in Wichita is a service that compassionately serves local families. Find out more about the organization and donate online at www.gracemed.org.

For the Love of Chance Center is a small organization that is dedicated to providing opportunities to children with special needs. Among the year-round services is the Miracle League where children with a variety of disabilities can participate in baseball. Check out the website at www.fortheloveofchance.com for more information.

ICT S.O.S. tackles the often-avoided topic of sex trafficking. To learn more about the group’s mission and how to donate time or other resources, visit www.ictsos.org.

Ronald McDonald House Charities is a familiar name that directly impacts families. Visit www.mhcwichita.org for more information.

Rainbows United offers a variety of services of area families. Detailed information can be found at www.rainbowsunited.org.

Youthville, which recently announced that it is closing one of it’s campuses, is a group that is “dedicated to the mission of Giving Children Back their Childhood.” The website, www.youthville.org, provides information on services and how to donate.

Here are a few of the ways that Wichita Family readers have shown their kids how to give to others at Christmas:

“We always pick two kids off the Angel Tree. One for Mark and I and Ridge picks one. Then we go shopping just for them one evening as a family.” Shawndra.

“When I was a kid and we lived on Air Force bases, we always took a plate of cookies to the men and women working the gate on Christmas Eve,” Danielle.

“I told my kids to make their Christmas lists. When they did, we had to go buy that Christmas list for a family before mine could have their Christmas this year,” Jennifer.

“This year in my family we are not exchanging gifts between adults, instead we adopted two families through Youth for Christ and we are providing gifts for their entire family—parents as well as the kids,” Audrey.

“We participate in one of the local organizations to shop for a child in need. We choose a child about the same age as ours, same gender, and shop for toys. The kiddos help shop, wrap and donate. It’s quite a thing for them—bringing all these toys home, then giving them away,” Rhonda.

“We made a garland our of gift bags one year for a countdown to Christmas. Each morning the kids get to check the bag to see what they will get to do for somebody else that day,” Gretchen.

“I let each of my three kids pick a charity to donate to every year. I love to see their faces light up as we deliver the donations. This year our family is sponsoring an orphanage for special needs kids,” Denise.

“I love to give things out of the catalog for Samaritan’s Purse. Things like a goat to help a
family provide for themselves, hot meals for kids in need, all kinds of great things. And it’s
the perfect gift for someone who already has everything,” Kristin.