Celebrate The Season With MCC’s Christmas Giving Guide
From Mennonite Central Committee
Christmas traditions help us mark and enjoy the season. Baking cookies, stringing lights, and watching endless Christmas movies with family and friends are all part of the magic of what we know as the Christmas season.
For many people those traditions also include giving back. Mennonite Central Committee Canada (MCC Canada) offers an easy way to do that through their Christmas Giving guide. Every year they offer gifts that help people in need around the world. One example of a gift that helps a family in need is a goat. It’s amazing the difference a goat can make! Take this family’s story for instance -
This young boy is excitedly greeting the goat his family just received through MCC. His family lives in one of the poorest areas of Lebanon. His mother said she is proud to have full responsibility for the family’s goat after receiving training in how to raise it and take care of it. Goats are adaptable and easy to raise, even in small spaces. They provide nutritious milk for families. Families can also make and sell goat cheese to earn an income. You can give a family this incredible gift this Christmas.
Goats are not the only thing you can purchase to help others through MCC’s guide. You can choose gifts based on the interests and passions of your family and friends, such as a gift of education on behalf of teachers, build a garden on behalf of plant enthusiasts, or medical care on behalf of healthcare workers.
Each gift fills an immediate need, enables people to earn an income, or helps provide a better future. For example, solar lanterns allow students like Kazagobou Apouri to study after the sun goes down. He lives in Burkina Faso and doesn’t have access to reliable electric lights. The solar lantern, given by a generous person like you, allows him to do homework after dark making his dream of finishing school and becoming a high school teacher possible.
Gifts can be chosen for a variety of budgets. MCC has everything from stocking stuffers (as little as $9) to larger gifts like building a well to give an entire village clean water. It’s entirely up to you!
How Does It Work?
Here is how it works - You choose a gift from the guide, make the purchase, and then send an e-card to the person you’d like to honour with the gift. It takes just a few easy clicks to change a family’s life.
During this season of giving, make sure to remember the “least of these” that Jesus spoke of. You can help bring comfort and joy to your neighbours in need around the world. Does Grandpa really need another tie, or would he rather know that his gift is going to help a mother take care of her newborn child across the world? So many of us are knee high in things we don’t need, so let’s spread the Christmas cheer where it is needed most.
Families can use the Christmas Giving guide along with Learning About Generosity with MCC, a free resource created to help children learn the value of generosity. What a valuable way to teach children that Christmas is not about getting, it’s about giving!
Where Can I Find The Guide?
Visit MCC’s website to browse the guide. Gifts can be purchased online or by telephone at 1.888.622.6337. Partner with MCC this Christmas season to give the gift of a changed life!
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