There is a saying "Charity Begins at Home". First let me debunk it. It is NOT from the Bible. According to this blog, it is from a 1642 book Religio Medici. And the quote was arguing AGAINST our common usage of only doing charity locally. Nevertheless, we are called to help those in need who are our neighbors. One way I try to do that this time of year is to buy a Christmas "Food Angel". Our local supermarket (Kroger) sponsors this event every year. Each "Food Angel" costs $25 and provides a full holiday dinner to a needy family in your local area! You also receive 100 fuel points which will save YOU 10 cents a gallon at the pump!Another way is to simply give a can or two to Dare to Care (or your local food bank) every time you shop for groceries. Local Kroger supermarkets have made this even easier by preparing small, medium, and large bags- pre-filled with a variety of foods that will feed a needy family. Just pick up a bag and take to the checkout! A lot of people won't ask for help, due to either pride or embarrassment, but they might seek help from a food bank or pantry. Help keep those pantry shelves stocked year round! Not sure what to donate? Here' s some ideas that have circulated in various forms on the internet:
10 THINGS FOOD BANKS NEED, BUT WON’T ASK FOR
Each day this week, I'm going to try to share a small way that anyone can get involved and make this a wonderful holiday season for all. What are your favorite ways to "give back" on a local level? Share your ideas in the comments!
