Lenten almsgiving service project with social studies, math lessons

I homeschooled our children, our Catholic Lenten lesson plans centered on prayer, fasting and almsgiving, in solidarity with the poor and imitation of our Lord Jesus. A favorite Lenten service project was to help with church missions for our twin parish in Haiti. Here's a Lenten almsgiving service project. Make personal care kits and school supplies kits for those in need. Fill gallon size zippered plastic bags with hygiene products. Discuss needs. Read on  Lenten almsgiving service project with social studies, math lessons | Examiner.com

Take down the Christmas Tree Day: Give Christmas trees to birds or elephants! | Examiner.com

The 12 Days of Christmas have past. Epiphany came and went on Jan. 6, and with it should have gone your old Christmas tree. Because Jan. 5 is Twelfth Night, the final hurrah of the Christmas season. So yes, Virginia, there is a real Take Down the Christmas Tree Day (reported WBUR NPR on Jan. 5). Alas, great weeping and Bah humbugs were heard in Whoville (and across the world) as mourners bemoaned the last rites of the yule season. But now comes another dilemma--what to do with your old dead Christmas trees? Some communities collect them and dump them in the local landfill. But, as nearly half of a landfill is composed (decomposed?) of yard waste, perhaps that's not such a green idea.  Take down the Christmas Tree Day: Give Christmas trees to birds or elephants! | Examiner.com

Homemade Christmas presents: Use recycled greeting cards and wrapping paper in gift crafts

Parents, are you burned out this holiday season? It's hard to keep up with kids home on winter vacation, Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, baking, cooking, decorating--oh and your job (can't forget that!) Well, how about a holiday parenting first aid kit that puts children to work in productive ways making holiday gifts? Here are homemade Christmas presents and gift crafts kids can make from recycled greeting cards, valentines and Christmas wrapping paper. Make these gifts free or super cheap with reused materials. These gift crafts are perfect for grandma and grandpa, godparents, teachers, coaches and parents!   Homemade Christmas presents: Recycled greeting cards, wrapping paper gift crafts | Examiner.com

Burned 8 y/o Safyre, sole survivor of arson fire, wants Christmas cards | Examiner.com

Do you send Christmas cards? Here's a name to add to your list--Safyre, and she is a true gem. When you read her story, you'll smile through your tears. Because this little lady has true grit in the face of staggering adversity and all Safyre asks for is Christmas cards. KSDK reported on Dec. 9, that Safyre was badly burned at 5 years old and is the sole survivor of a 2013 arson fire that killed her entire family. As you might imagine, life has not been easy for the fire orphan. Her auntie and uncle care for her, but what with scarring, surgeries, skin grafts, stares, disability, post-traumatic stress disorder, loneliness, emotional scarring from arson, fear, perhaps survivor guilt, life isn't easy. The holiday season is particularly difficult for anyone struggling with grief, loss, pain and suffering.  Burned 8 y/o Safyre, sole survivor of arson fire, wants Christmas cards | Examiner.com

Christmas work party wish list questionnaire for holiday gift exchanges | Examiner.com

Holiday gift exchanges for the Christmas work party are awkward. Trading gifts among people you don't know may seem like a pointless pain in the neck. But if you're attending a company work party and the gift exchanges are unavoidable, here are ways to make it work. Some people look forward to gift exchanges--senior citizens, developmentally disabled people, employees in small businesses, adult education students, work at home groups. A problem with gift exchanges is not knowing what to get a co-worker for the holiday work party. So have participants fill out a work party wish list questionnaire or preference profile. Here's a wish list questionnaire to print and distribute a few weeks before your holiday party. Gift suggestions based on Christmas wish list questionnaire answers are included.   Christmas work party wish list questionnaire for holiday gift exchanges | Examiner.com

Thanksgiving food basket donations: Best food drive items to give food banks

Thanksgiving is the season for giving and food pantries are a great place to donate. Is your workplace or church hosting a food drive? Here are the best donations to give food banks, canned good drives, missions and homeless shelters this holiday season. If you've worked at food banks you know that some foods are donated in over-abundance. There are also certain food basket donations you never have enough of. So give these foods and supplies to the next Thanksgiving and Christmas food drive.  Thanksgiving food basket donations: Best food drive items to give food banks | Examiner.com

Sweetest Day gifts: Budget romantic presents for lovers, couples and sweethearts

Sweetest Day is Oct. 17, 2015: it's celebrated the third Saturday in October. Here are Sweetest Day gifts and budget romantic presents for couples, lovers and sweethearts. The emphasis here is on personal, frugal and economical. Goodness knows with the holiday spending countdown starting, the last thing anyone can afford are more lavish, expensive gifts! Some ideas are sweet little homemade gifts--very much in keeping with the romantic essence of Sweetest Day.Sweetest Day gifts: Budget romantic presents for lovers, couples and sweethearts | Examiner.com