12 Ways of Giving This Christmas Season
Meet foster parents Karen and Kent Strachan. They have fostered 39 children and adopted 11 to grow their original family of four. They have that much love to share with children in need. Things can get a little wacky in a family of that size, especially during the holidays. We all can’t help raise 51 children, but here are 12 ways of giving so that you can easily make Christmas brighter for someone in crisis who lives in our community.
12 Ways of Giving
#1) Take a Journey of Hope
This interactive and inspiring tour of our agency shows firsthand how we are transforming the lives of children and families in our community. It takes only an hour.
#2) Share the “Journey”
Bring a friend with you to a Journey of Hope and double the number of people who know about the good we do in the community.
#3) Be An Angel
This holiday donation drive gives every family and every child we serve a selection of gifts to make Christmas brighter and needed supplies for the whole year.
#4: Start a Refugee Ministry
Refugee families arrive in Lansing with just a bag of their paperwork and the clothes they’re wearing. You can help them furnish their new home with gently used furniture, dishes, bedding and a multitude of other ways to welcome a stranger.
#5) Volunteer
It feels so good when you help someone in need or share your expertise. There are so many ways you can help by simply sharing your time or a special talent.
#6) Attend a Foster and Adoptive Parent Orientation
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to help children who need loving, stable homes, orientations are held the first and third Tuesday of each month. Find out if this option is for you!
#7) Become a Mentor
The children in our care need to build trusting relationships with adults as they recover from abuse and neglect. You can help them gain life skills, including how to apply to college, land an internship, interview for a job and so much more.
#8) Make a Donation
Make a tax-deductible donation to help families and individuals in need right here in your community. Watch your mailbox for Martin’s story about being adopted into the Strachan family. Your donation will help other children like him – and all of our programs.
#9) Join the Guardian Society
This group of dedicated individuals has committed to support STVCC for five years, ensuring support will be there for those most in need in the future. If you care about your community, learn how you can support people in crisis today and in the future.
#10) Pray
The simple power of prayer helps all of our clients in crisis, and your faith may guide you to carry out an act of mercy that makes a difference in someone’s life.
#11) Get Social
Engage with us in the social space and share positive stories about how clients have overcome crisis and are rebuilding their lives. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
#12) Treat Yourself!
Attend our Community Thank You Open House on Friday, Dec. 2 and enjoy a free breakfast and see creative displays about how we’ve helped people in our community this year.
Remember, we are not limited to just these 12 ways of giving. Through faith in God and love for all, the possibilities are endless.
Foster parents Karen & Kent Strachan have fostered 39 children and adopted 11, in addition to their two birth children.