Day 6: Charitable Giving and the Salem Red Sox

There is a wonderful organization in my city called the Roanoke Valley Interfaith Hospitality Network. It's basically a cooperative, non-denominational effort between churches and volunteer workers with a mission to assist families who have encountered significant financial difficulty, including the loss of a home, to get themselves back on secure footing. From the RVIHN website:

The Interfaith Hospitality Network is comprised of 26 congregations and over 1,000 volunteers who provide temporary housing and meals to homeless families. Each congregation provides private rooms, meals, and volunteers for one week at a time.

Isn't that wonderful?

Like many people, my husband and I love to share our Christmas giving with those who are less fortunate than we. I know you can relate to the desire to help make a child's Christmas wishes come true, particularly when you know that some parents simply can't make that happen on their own.

I spoke to a friend today who is the president of our local IHN board, and she pointed out that there is an overwhelming outreach to children at Christmas time, which is fantastic. Parents, however, often go without. Her suggestion was to give a few Walmart gift cards to the parents who are being hosted with IHN so that they can buy whatever they want or need for Christmas, which may include gifts for their children. I thought that was a lovely idea.

According to the store's website, Walmart gift cards never expire, so I was able to confidently purchase my gifts for IHN now without worrying that they would become worthless by Christmas. Gift cards ship for free if ordered from the Walmart website.

Rounding out my Christmas shopping today: two stocking stuffers! I found these in the gift shop at a Salem Red Sox baseball game this evening. The pink and green ball is for our cats. The shot glass is for the hubs (who will never know about this unless one of you tells him, so don't tell him). :)

TALLY: 10 friends and family covered, 5 stocking stuffers ready, one cat treat, and 4 charitable gifts!