7 Easy Ways to Start a Giving Back Tradition, plus Cinnamon Box Giveaway- EXPIRED

In a few days, we will sit down to a feast of food to give thanks for the many things we have in our lives. While we're being thankful for all that we have, many of us will talk about how we are lucky because there are so many people that don't have as much as we do. Families around the world and right here in the U.S. are fighting poverty, and there are so many that are in need of help. While we recognize that we have so much to be thankful for compared to others, what we can do to help can be a little bit harder to think about.

After Thanksgiving is over, we will quickly start thinking about gift giving. It's also a good time to think about giving back to the community and helping those in need. By getting your children involved with this, you can teach them the importance of giving to others. Instead of having them write their Christmas lists right away, have them think about children that may not have as much, and ask them how they think we can help. Make a plan to give to others in a way that works for you and what your family is comfortable with. You may be able start a new tradition for you and your family that will bring new meaning to the Season of Giving. Here's some ideas to get you started:
  1. Find a local shelter/ soup kitchen to volunteer your time to cook,  or serve food.
  2. Organize a canned food drive with a local charitable organization.
  3. Have your kids help you shop for toys for a local toy drive.
  4. Replace gift exchanges at work with a group effort to buy needed items for a local shelter.
  5. Check with a local school to see if they have any families in need that you could "adopt" to help provide a happier holiday.
  6. Money can be tight, if you can't afford to donate money, or buy new items, make this the time of year to clean out your closets and donate good used items. Have your children do the same.
  7. When buying gifts, buy from companies that have programs to give back, or benefit small communities.
One organization that I like that has a great program for giving back is WorldVision.org. World Vision has a gift catalog that allows for you to give a unique handcrafted gift to a loved one that will result in a person in poverty receiving a much needed item. The video below explains it much better than I do.





WorldVision sent me a very nice handcrafted Cinnamon box. It was made in Vietnam from the dried bark of the cinnamon tree. It was full of fresh ground cinnamon. The fresh cinnamon scent was amazing from the moment I opened the box, and I used it in a pumpkin bread the other day. It was so good! I plan to continue to use this cinnamon box even when I buy new cinnamon because I like the way it looks, but also because it makes me feel good to know that getting it helped someone in a small way. The people that make the items are given a way to make a living, and each one is made by hand with quality.



I also like that World Vision is giving so much back, and that they make it easy for us to help. World Vision provides assistance in nearly 100 countries including the United States.

I hope that you will take a look at the World Vision gift catalog and consider purchasing a gift that will help someone in need. But, even if you don't purchase from them, please do what you can to find ways to give back in your own community, and get your children involved so they can start the habit of giving to help others. It's never too late to start a tradition.

As a thank you for taking the time to read this and learn about World Vision, they have also provided a second cinnamon box for a giveaway. One reader will win a handcrafted cinnamon box with cinnamon. To enter, please complete the rafflecopter form below.

Good luck, and Happy Holidays!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

disclosure: My gift and the prize were provided by World Vision. I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own.

24 comments:

  1. Yes, I try to give back every weekend in a ministry work. Thanks for this giveaway!

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  2. I always try to do something to give back at the holidays. Not sure what our plan will be this year yet, but will will do something for sure.

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  3. I always coupon for toys around the holiday and the rest of the year and donate them to local toy drives

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  4. We always donate to the giving tree

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  5. I always try and do multiple giving back projects. I like that World Vision also gives in the US.

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  6. We support the food pantry at my youngest's school. We always clean out our closets at this time of year, too. I like to ask if anyone knows someone who could use those clothes before we donate them somewhere.

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  7. We participate in Toys for Tots and operation Christmas Child every year. It's great to get kids involved in giving back early on!

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  8. I use to volunteer at the shelter even if you can't give back you can give your time. Great post

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  9. I absolutely love this post. I think giving back is such an important part of the holiday season.

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  10. This year we are giving less presents to each other and doing more for others. I am trying to teach my kids the spirit of the season is way more important than our wants. We are blessed and the Bible teaches to whom much is given much is expected. We are not rich just blessed with relationships and love. Great post, great tips.

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  11. We pick angels from the angel tree at our church. We had our girls pick them out and will have them bring them to the church.

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  12. I always make it an effort to give back at the holiday season. In the past, I have volunteered my time to our county's community Christmas, done Secret Santa, or filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Now that my son is getting older, I have started talking to him about why we give back.

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  13. I especially love your idea about switching up a work gift exchange and doing a charitable contribution instead!

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  14. Although my son is only just turning 3, I want to start teaching him to donate some of his toys before the holidays since we are blessed to be able to give him new toys for his birthday and Christmas in December.

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  15. I love the concept of giving thanks and what World Vision stands for. I am going to look into this org further and perhaps use it as a fundraiser for my local Mothers & More org.

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  16. I think it is wonderful to make giving and being charitable a pat of every day life. It is impotant to realize that people should help people.

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  17. This is a great gift to give. We're trying hard to manage how my little ones expect things but it's really hard!

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  18. I love these suggestions! We have been donating items t our church for families in need.

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  19. Number 3 on your list is one of my faves. I think it's good for kids to help choose for other kids, and for them to realize that not everyone has the same amount of resources and why we help others.

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  20. Every year, my husband and I purchase gifts for under-privilege children through the Angel Gifting Tree. When I was a child, my family was going through some really hard times and couldn't always afford to celebrate Christmas, but we always got help through charities in our town and through the police and fire department. This is one way for me to give back for all of the things I got when I was young.

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  21. Great list of ways to give back!! My hubby and I adopt angels each year. Hoping soon to be able to adopt a Habitat for Humanity family. I also like to perform RAOK (random acts of kindness). Buying the person's meal behind me in the drive through line, etc. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

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  22. I like to donate anything I can that I don't need at any time of year. It's a good way for me to get rid of things that are cluttering up and give back to the community a bit.

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  23. Love the world vision gift giving guide.
    Such a great teaching tool to show our kids what life is like in another country.
    So many neat ideas to chose from it's hard to pick just one!

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    1. They really are a great program with great options. It is so important to teach giving to our children early on.

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