Tis the Season for Giving

It's definitely shopping time of year again! With Black Friday gone, many people already have their Christmas gifts purchased and wrapped under the tree. Have you ever thought about giving some of your time or talents this holiday season? Sounds cliche, but doing this really is more lasting than giving something that can be unwrapped on Christmas day. There are many worthy causes that you can support here in the Valley.

• Pick up an Angel Tree Card at your local Walmart to help provide a needy child with the Christmas they would not otherwise have. You can also volunteer to help deliver these toys!
• http://www.angeltree.org/deliverlove
• Send a card or care package to someone who is currently spending the holidays overseas serving in our military
• Volunteer at your local food bank  - or at least donate some non-perishable food at the grocery store collection points
• Go enjoy a festive light display! The Arizona Celebration of Lights supports St. Mary's Food Bank, Angel Tree, and The Salvation Army. 
• http://www.arizonacelebrationoflights.com
• Build-A-Box for Operation Christmas Child 
• http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC
• Help serve Christmas Dinner to those in need 
• http://phoenixsa.volunteerfirst.org/public/search_pro_featured.asp?ID=4
• Bake some cookies and make a visit to a nearby Assisted Living Facility. Take a small amount of your time to visit with someone a few generations your senior. Chances are... you will get more out of it than you give. Try it!
• Clean out your closet & donate your gently used clothes, jackets, and blankets
• http://charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/clothesshoes.htm
• Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity - help someone get a much needed roof over their head for the new year. 
• http://www.habitat.org/default.aspx

Many valley families have been hit hard by the economy. Is yours one of them? If you realize that receiving material gifts are not that important to you, maybe there is an alternative! Request that a tax deductible donation be made in your name to benefit a charity of your choice. Or suggest that your family volunteer together and spend the time really remembering the reason for the season. Whatever you do, have a blessed holiday season.....

Tell us what you do to benefit others during the holidays, and all year long. Apply to be this year's Spotlight Prom winner!