Ways to Spread Christmas Cheer

[teenwire]

I was a huge fan of the movie pay-it-forward and always thought it was an excellent means of spreading goodwill to other people. Since the holidays are up-and-coming, do you know of any creative ways to spread the cheer? What I've done so far was send my donations to the UNICEF chapter here, but I'm sure more can be done. Any ideas?

[medako]

ring a bell for the Salvation Army
help a local organization collect and put together food baskets
visit a senior citizens center, just to visit

just a few ideas....

[hokeshel]

Find out which of your neighbors may be in need of friendship ro financial assistance. Dropping off secret santa gifts is a great way to bring joy to people. It can be somethign as simple as a plate of cookies or a box of gifts. We have been the recipients and the givers and it has been a wonderful experience. Getting to know our neighbors thruoghout the year can help in this so that you don't offend someone or pass someone up who may need the cheeer. Caroling is a littel hokey but, I think is wonderful, too.

[lcsamano]

See if the local schools have angel trees up. Usually the tree will consist of children's names that are in the community in which their parents can't afford presents. As well try donating to your local shelter or domestic violence chapter. The shelter and domestic violance chapter will take simple tolietries and clothes.

[hokeshel]

Another thing is visiting people in the hospital or in nursing homes. Those is nursing homes rarely get steady visitors and really need the cheer.

[eldragon]

Yes, as a nursing home volunteer, I can vouch that they are usually pretty happy to see new visitors.

Some places, however, do not allow adults to roam the halls because of safety issues. Just to volunteer at some places, you have to have a background check.

The holidays were the only time that I saw frequent organizations showing up, bearing gifts and entertaining residents. They need friendly faces every day - not just Christmas~!

[Melos]

We always do a wish tree present for a child - and, in the spirit of teaching my kids to be kind and giving, we always remember that child on Christmas morning and imagine how he or she feels when opening that gift. I do want to think of more things that we can do to grow the love, as we say.