The antithesis of “gimme”, Giving Tuesday’s a day when charities, companies, and passionate people join together to help a neighbour, or help the planet – to “give back” with gifts of time, energy, and dollars. A day to show … well … that you “give a crap” about a cause that’s close to your heart.
Personally, FH is one of my favourite charities – and I hope it’ll become one of yours, too!
So to help you get ready for the “big give”, I’ve put together a list of 6 simple ways to share the love with vulnerable communities and kids in need this Giving Tuesday, and some easy tips to get started. And even though it’s not about what you get out of giving – I’ll tell you what you get back. You’ll be amazed! (HINT: it’s a lot more than warm fuzzies!)
1. Give a Piece of Crap
What you give: It’s one thing to say you care, it’s another to really, truly “give a crap”. Show that special someone on your Christmas shopping list just how much you do, by wrapping up “a piece of crap” from the FH Gift Guide for their stocking.
How to get started: It’s so easy – just click here to give a crap!
What you get back: Smiles all around – from the recipient of your cow pie-adorned Christmas card, to the farmer who now has environmentally-friendly, organic fertilizer for her veggie garden. And from you – for the warm fuzzy feeling that only giving such a unique, fun and incredibly precious gift of change can bring.
2. Sponsor a Child
What you give: For less than your daily java fix, you can give a child living in poverty the gift of hope. Your monthly donation of $38 will provide school tuition and a uniform, food-growing assistance, clean water, income programs for parents, and public health education. Your gift to one child helps equip the whole community for a brighter future!
How to get started: Visit the Child Sponsorship page to see the beautiful faces of children in need of sponsors, and sign up online to start sponsoring a child!
What you get back: Your child’s photo and progress reports, the chance to write them letters of love and encouragement, and to receive letters back about the difference you’re making in their life. You can even visit your sponsored child. How cool is that?
3. Shop the “Gifts for Change” Gift Guide
What you give: You won’t find any flat screen TVs or wearable technologies here. Just barnyard critters, seeds, medical equipment, and skills and training programs, to name a few – and neat new gifts this year, like an animal rescue kit, nurse scrubs, fishing gear and tackle, and a hive of honey bees. Sweet! But long after your new telly has … ahem … “crapped out”; the gifts you buy from FH’s “Gifts for Change” Gift Guide will keep on giving: milk, nutritious food, clean water… And providing the foundation for building healthy bodies, minds, livelihoods and communities.
How to get started: Shop the Gift Guide here. (HINT: Double – even quadruple – your spending power by giving “matched” gifts. Generous FH sponsors give what you give – or more – for sports equipment, an AWANA Club, and a dairy cow.)
What you get back: Your Christmas shopping – DONE! (Especially for hard to buy for Cousin Ned.) And with each gift given, a spiffy greeting card to give that explains how and where your gift is helping, and who benefits.
4. Pray
What you give: Prayer is often overlooked when it comes to giving, but its impact is huge – in fact, it’s essential: to give hope to the poor; to inspire the change in hearts, minds, and habits needed for communities to prosper; and to provide the means for FH to keep on helping with gifts from people like you. God is the foundation – and Christ’s love the motivation – for FH to walk with the world’s most vulnerable people until they thrive.
How to get started: There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to do it. Just ask for God’s blessing on sponsored kids, communities, advocates, and staff.
What you get back: See the results of God’s awesome power at work in the lives of His people and communities. And be amazed at what He can do for you through prayer, too!
5. Start a Partnership Group
What you give: When it comes to giving, this is the whole enchilada! Pairing up your church, club or business with a FH village in prayer, child sponsorship, and to provide financial support for community projects gives them encouragement, hope – and the resources – to make great things happen for themselves.
How to get started: Check out FH partnerships, and think about how your organization can help change the future of an at-risk community. Then get in touch with FH to talk about your idea.
What you get back: An intimate and step-by-step walk alongside a community as they grow spiritually, physically, and mentally towards independence and eventual graduation from FH. See how much you and your organization grows along the way, too!
6. Tell. Show. Share.
What you give: Tell your friends and family about your plans to support FH on Giving Tuesday, or get the gang together to pool your resources for big ticket Gift Guide items like Stock-a-Stable, Furnish a Classroom or Help Construct a Water Well. Then, get social and share your enthusiasm for your cause, and help “giving” go viral on Giving Tuesday with posts and Tweets to your followers.
How to get started: Snap an #unselfie with your FH “Gifts for Change” Gift Guide, then Tweet it out to @FHCanada, or post it on the Giving Tuesday Facebook page. Don’t forget to use the #GivingTuesdayCa hashtag!
What you get back: Virtual group hugs and high fives, 15 minutes of social media fame, and maybe a few new followers!
Wendy Ripmeester is a freelance copywriter in sustainable forestry with almost 20 years’ experience in the natural resources sectors. She has a passion for responsible travel and tourism; one of her favourite destinations is Latin America.
