25 Days of Christmas Giving

A few years ago, I did a post about ways you can celebrate 25 Days of Baby’s First Christmas that has become pretty popular on social media.  It was a nice collection of ways to celebrate with a smaller baby.  Since then, our priorities for celebrating the holidays with Emmie have changed just a little bit though.  We still love to do all of the fun, festive activities that make the holidays so special.  But, as she gets older, I really want to emphasize giving and serving others as the main theme of our holiday celebrations.

I’ve really been brainstorming ways we can perform selfless acts of kindness for those around us this time of the year.  In keeping with my “25 Days of…” post theme, here are 25 Days of Christmas Giving that are perfect for following with a younger child!

1. Donate to your favorite charity.

2. Make dinner for a friend in need.

3. Clean out your toy bin for charity.

4. Write an encouraging note to a family member.

5. Make cookies for your local fire department/police station.

6. Pick an angel from an angel tree program.

7. When Christmas shopping, let another customer skip in front of you at check-out.

8. Pay for the person behind you at a drive-thru.

9. Send a care package to a member of the military.

10. Make crafts to cheer up patients at a local children’s hospital.

11. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen.

12. Adopt a family through a local charitable organization.

13. Offer to help decorate for the holidays at your local school, after-school center, senior center, etc.

14. Write a thank-you letter to your garbage man, teacher, mailman, etc.

15. Pick up trash at a local park.

16. Sing Christmas carols to neighbors.

17. Take “stocking stuffers” (treats, food, small toys) to an animal shelter.

18. Buy a holiday treat for the school receptionist.

19. Have kids help with Christmas cards by writing a personal note to friends/family.

20. Participate in a walk/run event for charity.

21. Donate old clothes/coats to your local homeless shelter.

22. Make Christmas ornaments to decorate the tree at your local nursing home.

23. Leave change on a parking meter for the next patron.

24.  Organize a canned food drive at your school.

25.  Visit a nursing home or a VA hospital.

Many items on this list involve the movement of money for the betterment of society…this is exactly the essence of Western Union’s Chain of Betters project. They believe that when money moves, better things happen. A business expands. A family connects. A child goes to college. Emergency aid arrives the moment it’s needed. An economy prospers, an opportunity opens, a community heals.

Western Union’s customers send money that betters the world around them each and every day.  When you move money for the better, you’re moving money for a better world – creating value for individuals, businesses and for society. Money sent by their customers helps to stimulate economies and make individuals’ lives more rewarding and fulfilled.

This is the very heart of the Chain of Betters project. It’s an idea that empowers people with the opportunity to change the lives of others. As the money moves around the world, creating a chain of good deeds, lives are changed in ways you couldn’t have imagined was possible. This isn’t just saying money moves for better. This is Western Union working with customers to prove it.

You can find more information about the Chain of Betters Project in this video or at their website.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.