Conscious Giving
By Terri Milligan
The wheel has turned. The night comes early now. The leaves have fallen from the trees. Winter is knocking on our doors. Already, lights are being strung and Christmas trees are beginning to decorate
window fronts. Everywhere you go, stores are stocked and ready for the much anticipated influx of holiday shopping. Once upon a time, this was the season for spending time with Community and Family, and a time for rest and reflection (Yes, REST!!). In our evolution, we have lost touch with this part of the earth’s natural cycle. Now, too often and too easily, we get caught up in the commercialization of it all; The overwhelming obligation to buy and give gifts. This obligation has been created by marketing and social expectations, not by any Religious belief. Even non-Christians get pulled into this modern tradition. Let’s face it, we all enjoy getting gifts! And we enjoy giving gifts and bringing happiness to those we love! But most of us here in our society have very little “need” for Things. Yet still, we get caught up in the stress; trying to find the right present
for someone who has everything already, and all too often we end up buying a gift that they will probably like, just to be giving it for the sake of expectation.
But you have a choice. We all have a choice. We can choose to not give material gifts at all, but to instead give each other our time and our attention. We can choose to give gifts that actually have meaning. We can choose to write each other poems or songs, or some other fun thing that will make us smile. We can choose to give gifts that are personal, using our talents to make handmade items that are filled with love. We can choose to give gifts that help those who are truly in need. This season, (and all seasons for that matter) we can CHOOSE to spend our time and money, in a way that help’s to make a real difference in someone’s life.
There are many ways to make a difference. There are many ways to help those in need. For those of you who choose to spend your time and money doing just that, I have some suggestions to help you get started:
Spend time volunteering, either alone or together with your family or community. Slow down and visit with the sick or elderly- maybe a neighbor who lives alone, or at a retirement center or nursing home- bringing warmth and companionship to their lives. Go through your house, find things that you no longer use or need and donate them. Teach your children the beauty of giving by having them go through their toys, and pick out a few things to share with those less fortunate and go together to donate them to a local shelter. Coordinate with your friends and coworkers, and instead of giving each other gifts- collect the money that would have been spent and give to a local charity or food bank. Find out what charity holds special
importance to a loved one, and donate money in their name. Buy gifts that help to support organizations that assist the handicapped
or disabled. Buy gifts from companies that donate part of the proceeds to a charity that you want to support.
Following are a few organizations and agencies
that can help you to begin acting on your Choice- Use your imagination, and I am sure that you will discover many more ways that you can make a difference!
The Atlanta Children’s Shelter
404-892-3713
www.atlantachildrensshelter.com
Alzheimer’s Association
404-728-1181
www.alzga.org
Camp Twin Lakes
404-231-9887
http://camptwinlakes.org
Rainbow House, Inc.
770-478-6905 or 1-877-247-3379
www.rainbowhouseinc.org
American Cancer Society
1-800-227-2345
www.cancer.org
Atlanta Community Food Bank
404-892-3333
http://www.acfb.org/
Atlanta Habitat for Humanity
404-223-5180
http://www.atlanta-habitat.org/
Heifer Project International
1-800-422-0474
http://www.heifer.org/
CARE
1-800-521-2273
http://www.careusa.org/
Make-A-Wish Foundation of GA and AL
770-916-9474
www.wishatlanta.org
Friends of Disabled Adults and Children
404-491-9014
http://fodac.org/
Hands On Atlanta
404-979-2800
http://www.handsonatlanta.org/
Project Open Hand Atlanta
404-419-3317
http://www.projectopenhand.org/
Atlanta Union Mission
404-367-2244
http://www.aumcares.org/
Metro Atlanta Toys for Tots
678-225-4599
www.atlantatoysfortots.com
Mouth and Foot Painting Artists
770.986.7764
http://www.mfpausa.com/
Literacy Action, Inc.
404-818-7323
http://www.literacyaction.org/
United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta
404-527-7200
http://www.unitedwayatl.org/
Georgia Conservancy
404-876-2900
www.gaconservancy.org
Earth Share of Georgia
404-873-3173
http://www.earthsharega.org/
Captain Planet Foundation
404.522.4270
http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/
AID Atlanta
404-870-7700
http://aidatlanta.org/
American Red Cross
404-575-3730
www.atlantaredcross.org
 Terri (Twilight) works for Aquarius and has been an active member
of the local Pagan community for over a decade. Contact her via email at stormy_serenity@yahoo.com |
