Shine bright this Christmas season

Posted by admin on Dec 1, 2009 in Issues & Ideas | 0 comments

1. Browse through Compassion Canada’s gift guide pages as the semester dies down and be inspired by the ways that you can extend a helping hand to “release children from poverty – in Jesus’ name.” With $11 a mosquito net can be purchased, with $14 a chicken, and with $215 a goat. Consider setting up a fundraiser or get friends to pitch in and buy a significant gift for a family this Christmas. To be Jesus’ hands and feet, visit www.compassion.ca.

2. Long gone are the days of carolling to unsuspecting neighbours in the frigid December air. Consider bringing back this tradition with a group of eager friends. A helpful site to visit is www.the-north-pole.com/carols, which will provide not only lyrics for famous carols, but also musical accompaniment so that the songs are more easily learnt.

3. Do you know you’ll stay sober this December? Consider volunteering with Operation Red Nose, a unique program that is facilitated by volunteers who give safe rides during the Holiday season to those who have been drinking and cannot drive their own vehicle home. Operating every Friday and Saturday evening in December, ORN is seeking volunteer Designated Drivers (min. Age 21), Escort Drivers (min. Age 19) and Navigators (min. Age 19). Visit www.operationrednose.com\ for more information.

4. Volunteer with Night Shift Street Ministries, a Christian multi-denominational front-line street ministry. They seek to profoundly impact the human heart by providing supper and a listening ear to the homeless of Surrey. Visit www.nightshiftministries.org for more information.

5. With Winter right around the corner, Community Soup Kitchens are in desperate need of extra hands to prepare and serve hot meals to the homeless in the community. One such kitchen can be found at the Cloverdale Christian Fellowship, it provides soup on Mondays from 6 p.m. -7:30 p.m., pasta on Tuesdays from 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., hot dogs on Thursday from 11 a.m. –1 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Either call 604-574-1725 or visit for more information.

6. Bulembu is a town in Swaziland, Africa, ravaged by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the resulting orphan crisis. A team of entrepreneurs and social developers are working towards a vision to make Bulembu self-sustaining by 2020. This Christmas season consider opening your heart and wallet to what their ReStore has to offer. Every dollar invested in bricks, trees, books, screws, clothing and more will be doubled. For the tempting opportunity to restore the lives of the forsaken, visit www.bulembu.org.

7. With a plethora of Christmas dinners to attend and host, consider ingredient shopping for yourself and for someone else. Most grocery stores in Langley have a special bin for the Food Bank near the exit doors. Though canned meats, pastas and fruits are always appreciated, consider donating new children’s toys and clothing, diapers, infant formula and personal hygiene items. The need is so great and you can help.

8. To recharge and refresh this stressful exam season, show what the holidays are all about through random acts of kindness: pay for the car behind you in a fast food drive-thru, send cards to everyone in your dorm, give out chocolate in RNT, bring your roommate lunch, buy the widow down the street a dozen roses and when the snow sets in ask neighbours if you can shovel their driveways. Those around will be surprised and grateful for your labour of love!