A New Way to Celebrate Christmas
Americans spend $450 billion a year on Christmas shopping, and we could give every person on the planet clean drinking water for $10 billion.
These stats, courtesy of Advent Conspiracy (see here for promo video), got me thinking about how I normally spend money this time of year and what it might look like to do something different. I thought about God coming into the world as a baby and how Christmas should be a special time for children. That's when I started wondering how I could help underprivileged kids.
I called Grand Rapids Public Schools and asked which of the elementary schools was the neediest. The lady on the other end said I needed to talk with the director of elementary schools. She transferred me, and the director picked up. She was a bit taken aback but eventually answered, "How about Alexander School?"
I called Alexander School and learned that all 148 students are on reduced or free lunch. "These kids don't have a lot," the office manager said. I also learned the school was in need of very basic supplies: hats and gloves, crayons, paper, pencils.
I told my mom not to spend money on me for Christmas. "Send a check, and I'll give it to these kids who need it far more than I do." When my sister was about to send gift cards to our parents, they stopped her. "Wait. Never mind us. Send it to Chad, and he'll give it to these kids."
Friday morning I took more than $200 in school supplies to Alexander School. I had to make three trips from my truck to the school. I arrived early in the day to avoid disrupting class, met the teachers, and passed out the supplies.
To the extent that Christmas is about gratitude, I'm having the best Christmas ever. Giving fresh boxes of crayons to children who wouldn't otherwise have them makes me downright giddy. (Is there anything more basic to a small child's education than a box of crayons?) I envision a handful of children wearing new hats and gloves as they run on the playground, and again I'm beside myself with joy. Truly, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
I told a friend about it, and she gave me cash a few days later. Now more friends are asking how they can help. Alexander School, it looks like I'll be making another drop-off in the near future. And I can't wait.
These stats, courtesy of Advent Conspiracy (see here for promo video), got me thinking about how I normally spend money this time of year and what it might look like to do something different. I thought about God coming into the world as a baby and how Christmas should be a special time for children. That's when I started wondering how I could help underprivileged kids.
I called Grand Rapids Public Schools and asked which of the elementary schools was the neediest. The lady on the other end said I needed to talk with the director of elementary schools. She transferred me, and the director picked up. She was a bit taken aback but eventually answered, "How about Alexander School?"
I called Alexander School and learned that all 148 students are on reduced or free lunch. "These kids don't have a lot," the office manager said. I also learned the school was in need of very basic supplies: hats and gloves, crayons, paper, pencils.
I told my mom not to spend money on me for Christmas. "Send a check, and I'll give it to these kids who need it far more than I do." When my sister was about to send gift cards to our parents, they stopped her. "Wait. Never mind us. Send it to Chad, and he'll give it to these kids."
Friday morning I took more than $200 in school supplies to Alexander School. I had to make three trips from my truck to the school. I arrived early in the day to avoid disrupting class, met the teachers, and passed out the supplies.
To the extent that Christmas is about gratitude, I'm having the best Christmas ever. Giving fresh boxes of crayons to children who wouldn't otherwise have them makes me downright giddy. (Is there anything more basic to a small child's education than a box of crayons?) I envision a handful of children wearing new hats and gloves as they run on the playground, and again I'm beside myself with joy. Truly, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
I told a friend about it, and she gave me cash a few days later. Now more friends are asking how they can help. Alexander School, it looks like I'll be making another drop-off in the near future. And I can't wait.
Labels: Advent Conspiracy, Alexander School, Christmas
posted by ChadRAllen @ 5:55 AM
4 Comments
