"A fool judges people by the presents they give him."
— Chinese Proverb (Planet)
This time of year is particularly hard for families, especially if your family receives State Aid. Many families have to decide whether or not to spend food, or bill money, to buy their child(ren) presents for the holidays. I have been there, and let me tell you, if you have never been in that situation, it sucks! Many families get far behind in their bills, especially rent, because for most, that is the largest monthly expense, and if they “take from Peter to pay Paul,” they may be able to afford to buy something for their family.
I am here to tell you that there are organizations out there to help you during the holidays, so you do not have to take food off of your table, or get far behind in bills (which indirectly takes food of your table,) to pay for presents. Numerous families do not realize these organizations are out there, to help families in need, for the holidays. Here are the links I could find, for those organizations. However, some of the organizations cannot be found on the internet, instead, you must call them, or drive to them, (those are the ones numbered in red).
Here are the different links that can be helpful with toys, and other gifts for you child(ren):
1. Free Cycle Network
2. Toys for Tots
3. The Salvation Army
4. Angel Tree
5. Operation Christmas Child
6. Contact your Local Food Bank
(If you are unsure of where one might be, there is a Gadget on this blog to help you find the one closest to you, all you need to do is enter you zip code, and the Gadget does the rest.)
7. Contact your Local Churches
(Churches can be extremely helpful in pointing you in the right direction)
8. If you are still having trouble finding help, call 2-1-1
(2-1-1 provides information regarding health, and human service organizations) (Google)
9. Contact your child(ren)’s school
(Your child(ren)’s school may be able to be of some help, some schools offer a program like Toys for Tots during the holidays)
As far as presents for family members (such as siblings, or relatives,) there are other ways to give presents, without spending a lot of money. One of the options out there are to make the presents you will give out to family members (you can even do this for your child(ren). Every year, my son and I make cinnamon hand print ornaments, (of his hand,) to give to family, and friends. It is an inexpensive way to show people that you care, and it allows the person you give them to, to watch how much your child grows each year. All you need is a big bottle of Cinnamon, some Elmer’s Glue, and a large container of Apple Sauce.
Here is a link to a site that will explain How to Make Cinnamon Ornaments.
Another way you can give inexpensive presents, besides ornaments, is giving crafts that you made. Children love to make things, and what better present to give, (or receive,) than something someone (like a child,) made by hand, just for you. There are so many things that you can make during the holidays, for each different holiday, or religion.
Here are links for different crafts you can make with your child(ren):
Crafts for Children:
1. Crafts for Kids (Education.com)
2. DLTK's Holiday Activities (Together)
3. Holidays (Kaboose, Holidays)
4. KinderArt®Holiday Crafts for Kids (Kinderart.com)
5. Free Holiday Craft Pattern Index (AllFreeCrafts.com, Free Holiday Craft Pattern Index)
6. KidsHolidayCrafts.com (KidsHolidayCrafts.com)
7. The Activity Cupboard (Home)
8. Kids Crafts (AllCrafts.net)
9. Free Crafts for Kids (AllFreeCrafts.com, Free Crafts for Kids)
10. The ALOT Crafts Toolbar (alot.com)
Crafts for Teens:
1. Teen Crafts - Crafts, Projects and Ideas for Teens (About.com)
2. Crafts for Teens and Tweens (Kaboose, Crafts for Teens and Tweens)
3. Crafts for Teens (MakingFriends.com)
4. Crafts for Teenagers (Buzzle.com)
5. Christmas Crafts for Teens (Helium)
I hope that you can find these links helpful for this holiday season. If you go onto any search engine, and type in - free crafts, you will be able to find these links, and many more. I used the Google search engine to get these links, so if you do not see what it is that you want to make, try using a different search engine, such as Aol or Bing.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
"Twas the Night before Christmas Poem"
By Clement Clarke Moore
"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" "
(Moore)
There are many great web sites out at this moment for making crafts, and for helpful organizations during the holiday season, here are a few that I have found helpful in my researching for this post:"Twas the Night before Christmas Poem"
By Clement Clarke Moore
"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" "
(Moore)
About.com. Teen Crafts - Crafts, Projects and Ideas for Teens. 2010. 10 December 2010 http://parentingteens.about.com/od/crafts/Crafts_Craft_Project_Ideas.htm
AllCrafts.net. Kids Crafts. 10 December 2010. 10 December 2010
http://www.allcrafts.net/kids.htm
AllFreeCrafts.com. Free Crafts for Kids. 2002-2010. 10 December 2010 http://www.allfreecrafts.com/kids/index.shtml
—. Free Holiday Craft Pattern Index. 2002-2010. 10 December 2010
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/holiday-crafts.shtml
alot.com. The ALOT Crafts Toolbar. 2010. 10 December 2010
http://try.alot.com/tb/crafts/crafts_holiday.phpaff_id=googlefive&camp_id=463&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc
Andrew. Animals of You Tube Singing "Deck the Halls". 23 December 2009. 10 December 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0WVfj76bo
Army, The Salvation. The Salvation Army. 2000-2009. 10 December 2010 http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf
Buzzle.com. Crafts for Teenagers. 200-2010. 10 December 2010
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/crafts-for-teenagers.html
Cycle, Free. Free Cycle Network. 2010. 10 December 2010
http://www.freecycle.org/
Education.com. Crafts for Kids. 2010. 10 December 2010
http://www.education.com/activity/arts-and-crafts/?cid=55000.0060581029&s_kwcid=TC8363holiday%20crafts%20for%20kidsSb3815570665&gclid=COubpIO44qUCFcfe4AodvDVd2A
Fellowship, Prison. Angel Tree 2010. 2010. 10 December 2010
http://www.angeltree.org/deliverlove
Google. Google Definitions. n.d. 10 December 2010
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS397US398&defl=en&q=define:2-1-1&sa=X&ei=T5cCTc_-EIP68AbwuLHnAg&ved=0CBQQkAE
Helium. Christmas Crafts for Teens. 2002-2010. 10 December 2010 http://www.helium.com/knowledge/287435-christmas-crafts-for-teens
Home, Mothers. The Activity Cupboard. June 2010. 10 December 2010
http://www.mothers-home.com/activities/sherri2.htm
Kaboose. Crafts for Teens and Tweens. n.d. 10 December 2010
http://crafts.kaboose.com/crafts-for-teens.html
—. Holidays. 2010. 10 December 2010
http://holidays.kaboose.com/
KidsHolidayCrafts.com. Welcome. 17 November 2010. 10 December 2010
http://www.kidsholidaycrafts.com/
Kinderart.com. Kinder Art Holiday Crafts for Kids. 1997-2010. 10 December 2010 http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/
MakingFriends.com. Crafts for Teens. 21 July 2010. 10 December 2010 http://www.makingfriends.com/teen_crafts.htm
Moore, Clement Clarke. Twas the Night Before Christmas Poem. 2001. 10 December 2010 http://www.carols.org.uk/twas_the_night_before_christmas.htm.
Planet, Grinning. Funny Judge Jokes. 2009. 10 December 2010
http://www.grinningplanet.com/funny-quotes/judge-quotes-funny.htm
Relief, Samaritan's Purse International. Operation Christmas Child. 2010. 10 December 2010 http://master.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/occ/
Together, DLTK'S Growing. DLTK's Holiday Activities. 1998-2010. 10 December 2010
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/
Tots, Toys for. Toys for Tots Foundation. 2006. 10 December 2010
http://www.toysfortots.org/
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