Teaching children to give back

In this week’s baby bargainista column, Jenny talks about teaching her daughter to help give back to less fortunate children.

Along with holiday-related stress, the onset of the holiday season always brings thoughts of those less fortunate than ourselves. This year we decided our 5-year-old is old enough to understand the plight of the needy, in the simplest terms of course, and to join the family in giving back to the community through support of a charity.

For the past couple of years we’ve encouraged her to go through her toy collection and fill a bin with items that are still in good condition which she no longer wants or plays with, to donate to Goodwill. (As a bonus, this helps us to clear some space in our house for the new gifts Santa is bound to bring!)

This year, we started giving her a small allowance, and with a little help with the math she determined how much to set aside each week for spending, saving, and “sharing” or charity. This week we took the total “sharing” amount to the local toy store and she chose a new, unwrapped toy to give to a toy drive that the store supports.

She really seemed to enjoy the experience of picking out a toy for another child, and to understand for the first time the value of giving and helping others. Now we’re wondering how we can expand on this next year!

How do you encourage your kids to give back to the community during the holidays? At what age do you think it’s appropriate for them to volunteer their time as well as their cash?

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Give to those in need on Blog Action Day

It’s Blog Action Day and poverty is this year’s theme. The idea is that bloggers around the world will help effect change by writing about a single social issue and raising awareness.

One of my pet peeves is when people have perfectly good stuff they throw away instead of donating it to someone in need. It really bothers me to walk through affluent neighbourhoods and see perfectly good furniture left on people’s lawns. I mean c’mon, there’s always Goodwill and plenty of other options.

This morning while getting ready for work, I had BT on and learned about The Furniture Bank. What an amazing concept! If you have some furniture or other basic household items you no longer need, you can arrange to have it picked up from your home – for a fee – and taken to The Furniture Bank. Check the list of exemptions.

At The Furniture Bank, with the assistance of knowledgeable staff, clients (homeless individuals and families who are in need and referred by their caseworkers) can select items they need for their new small apartments. Volunteers and financial donations are also needed.

Do you know of any other places where you can donate gently used clothing, furniture or other household items to help people in your community who are in need?