Christmas.... a time for giving?

[Trudes]

Just sitting here and starting to get organised to go off and do my Meals on Wheels deliveries later and thought "I wonder how many people will be doing something for someone else this Christmas".
So many of us get pissed off with Christmas due to buying presents for people and spending too much money when there are other ways to give other than buying people things, such as spending time with others, doing something nice for someone or even just sparing a thought for others.
A couple of years ago my mum and step-dad who live in Wairoa, went around all the local businesses and were donated food and we had a big free Xmas lunch for all those in the community who had nowhere to be and no family to spend Christmas day with. About 25 people turned up for lunch and it was nice to see people who would normally spend Xmas on their own sharing lunch and each others company for a couple of hours on what can often be a very lonely day if you have no one to spend it with.
So, what are your plans for Christmas? Anyone going down to help cook or serve at a local soup kitchen or something? Put a present under the tree at one of the malls for kids that may not be getting much for Christmas? etc etc.

[Pussy]

I like the way you think, Trudes
I get the shits with the commercialism of Christmas, but quite like the fellowship... catching up with friends, family etc
Maybe I ought to think about volunteering to help out at a dinner for the less fortunate?

[CB ARGH]

I donated to the auckland city mission.

I might stick something under that Kmart tree is they still do it.

[Trudes]

Good for you guys! That's what Christmas is really about eh (oh, that and Jesus and stuff).
It doesn't even have to cost a thing, and I feel that something isn't charity if you are getting something out of it too, even if it's just the idea that you may have made someone else a little less lonely or unhappy, even just for an hour or two.

[MotoGirl]

I'm almost the Christmas Grinch and don't care too much for it nowadays. I've donated money to Waipuna Hospice and the SPCA and that's as far as I get with being charitable

[Al]

I donate time and effort to the local community.
I am the vice-captain of our local Fire and Emergency Response Group and we are approaching cyclone season here in the Northern Territory Top-End, also big rains on the way....
Have put in over 200 volunteer hours so far this year!

[Nasty]

We normally participate in the toy run .. so I did that for both of us ... donates money and games for kids

I think this year will be a quiet one - one for thoughts to go out to others who have lost mates this year.

[martybabe]

Trudes, your a top bird and no mistake, wonderful thoughts and deeds babe, bless ya.

For myself, I've yet to come to terms with Christmas down under, It seems so strange in summer almost surreal and 90% of my babies are half a planet away so I shall be thinking of the wonderful times we shared together at Christmas in years gone by, missing them all terribly I guess.

So I shall just send out thoughts and good wishes to everyone missing loved ones over xmas, sadly there are a lot, my heart goes out to them all, not least the fantastic lady above. Bless ya babe.