Operation Christmas Child Deadline November 19, 2012

If you have seen the posts around Facebook or the signs around town and at the YMCA or local churches, remember that the deadline for turning in the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child is Monday, November 19.  This is a simple project, especially for children, to participate in the joy of giving to  those less fortunate than themselves.

If you have not heard of this and have time today or tomorrow to shop for a few small items, THIS LINK (designed by my son), has all of the details.

Stocking Up ... Not Just for the Winter / Sharing Giving to The Poor

All of us who shop food sales (and other sales), use coupons and savings websites do so to save money and provide for our families in the most economical way.  There are, of course, other reasons to stock up.  Here in Florida, since 2004, we have had hurricanes come our way and one of the necessary preparations is to have plenty of non-perishable food on hand.  We have always stocked up during this season “just in case” but only during 2004 have we ever had to use food for that purpose.  We have donated food at times for other areas of the country or world that have had other natural disasters...Haiti last year, for example.

This is my kitchen pantry ...

...kept behind closed doors.

Another reason and I think, one of the best, is to stock up to share with others.  I have mentioned in  previous blogs about donating to needy families.   Two weeks ago United Way was calling for donations at my husband’s office.  A few weeks before that they had a large school supply collection at his office as well.   Last week was our first food donation of the season.   A neighbor informed the rest of us that there were 40 homeless families (up from 8 last year) with children attending our nearby elementary school and took up food and hygiene collections for them.   Although people are in need year-round, the fall / Thanksgiving time of year seems to be especially taken note of by various organizations who gather and provide food in bulk for our community and elsewhere. 

This year, as you are saving $$ on groceries for your family, take the challenge and purchase a little extra for someone else who most definitely will be in need at some time this fall.  Set a little more aside to give and to share.    Sometimes the "needy" are right in front of you --your neighborhood, your extended family, your church...

Psalm 72:13 

He will have acompassion on the poor and needy, 

And the lives of the needy he will save. 

Mark 14:7 

For you always have the poor with you, 

and whenever you wish you can do good to them...

Needy People

Needy people are all around us. Every time I read the newspaper there is an article about people in our country and all over the world in need, some in true poverty. We have donated at least 3x this year to food drives, plus United Way, the Rescue Mission, etc. The annual Boy Scout food drive is coming up in early November. Sometimes we hear of the needs for "people" and think of them as a non-entity not as individuals.

About 10 days ago a young man came to our front door and wanted to trim our palm tree for $25 that afternoon. It was getting a lot of brown leaves on it so I jumped at the offer. He didn't come back that day which was disappointing and I really forgot about him the rest of the week. Monday night he returned at 6:30 p.m. when my husband was home from work and asked about doing the job. 2 1/2 hours later it was completed and cleaned up, excellently. During the course of his work my husband went out to chat with him. This young man and his wife and 3-year-old daughter had been driving around looking for some work so he could earn money for his family. There were two older children at home with their grandparents while they did so. Their story was really heartbreaking. We paid them double and I gave them a large bag of groceries as well for which they were really grateful.

The "needy people" became someone with eyes and hands and feet that night. I was reminded of this during my Bible reading this morning:

1Timothy 6:18-19

Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.