January is an interesting time. New Years Day marks the close of the “Holiday Season” for many. We come out of a time when we are focused on giving and when many people make their charitable effort for the year. And from that excitement and rush, we transition into a period with fewer celebrations on the calendar, when the weather is often still cold the days are still short.
At the same time, we also start to focus on the future. We make out plans for the coming year, set goals and even make resolutions in the hope and intention of bettering our lives. What better time to stop and think how we enhance our lives by helping others?
There is no reason why that same spirit of giving that warms our hearts and gives us focus beyond out own cares in December can’t sustain us through the rest of winter and beyond. So I lay this challenge before you, as you contemplate your resolutions and plans for 2008, ask yourself, “how can I give something back this year?”
There are so many things you can do. Companies often sponsor charitable causes, so you may not have to look very far. And I’m not talking about financial contributions; though if you have the money to throw at a worthy cause, by all means, go for it! Every little bit helps! But there are many of us who may feel that because finances are tight we can’t help. I’m here to say, rich or poor, there is always some way you can help out and giving of yourself always gives you something in return.
So, what can you do?
To put my money where my mouth is, I’ll start with some of the things I’ve done over the last couple of years, and these were all just though my job:
I volunteer as a reader in the Power Lunch program—This is a gift of time, reading once a week with a child in a local school. I do this on my lunch hour. When I started five years ago, it was though my job, but this year, I changed jobs and arranged to keep participating in this worthwhile program.
I have done the Walk for Juvenile Diabetes a few times—Investment? A few phone calls and emails to get sponsors and one day spent in the sun with people all there to give and have a good time.
My office sponsored a Valentines Day program where we made valentines for residents in senior centers. (This is a good one for all you scrapbook/paper crafters out there, but anyone who can draw a heart with a Sharpie would also be welcome.)
I knitted pink scarves for Breast Cancer—Now this was one of my favorites and a perfect example of what the Society for Conscious Craft is all about. I am not a fast knitter by any means. So, by the end of it, I was not able to knit as many scarves as some of the more prolific knitters in our group. But, I am a good teacher and I taught more than ten volunteers the basic steps they needed to follow to turn out a simple scarf. So, by helping with the skills I had, I helped make at least 10 more scarves. (Scarves were sold to raise funds for Breast Cancer.)
My point is that there is probably something you know how to do that you can turn towards making someone else’s life a little better. (If you’re able to read this, maybe there is a program like Power Lunch in your area.) And it doesn’t have to be a huge investment of time and resources either. Participate in something that takes a day, or give an hour a week or every two weeks even.
Are you crafty? Do you like to knit in the winter? Maybe you can commit to making one project this year for charity. Do you knit a lot? How about donating one out of every ten projects you make? Do you craft with friends? What if you, as a group, committed to making something for charity? You’d have a reason, to maybe get together a little more often and you’d share the joy of giving.
Are you skills more academic? Are you good at math or knowledgeable about science or history? Maybe you can volunteer to tutor once week?
Or perhaps your talents lie in the world of business. Why not lend those skills? There may be a local charity in your area that needs some bookkeeping help, or some help with their marketing.
Do you like to cook? Perhaps there is a shelter that could use a hand in the kitchen, or even someone to teach basic cooking skills to residents as they prepare for a better life.
I truly believe that everyone has something to give. What can you do this year?
--Cristina Kollet
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