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Five weeks till Christmas. Are you ready? I’m not. I haven’t even started shopping. I’m still trying to sort out the little one’s birthday next week.

Our family is so very blessed to have all our needs covered. We’re not a material focused family either, so our wants are few. We also prefer to concentrate on the real reason for the season, which is the birth of Jesus Christ. Last year, my sister donated to a charity in our name, instead of buying gifts for my kids. The money went to 3rd world countries to buy beehives for Ugandan families, and books & sports equipment for children in war torn areas. My kids LOVED that idea. We got to research those countries, and they got to see what real poverty looks like. They saw how the money was used to make better lives for those families.

This year I asked my extended family (Mum, Dad, brothers, sisters, cousins, etc) what they thought about donating to a charity instead of buying extended family gifts. They loved the idea too, so that’s what we’re going to do this Christmas. What type of charity, and the amount/form of donation is completely up to each family. Whether they donate money, self, product or time – it’s up to them. On Christmas Day we’ll reveal to the rest of the family what we did and why we chose that specific organisation.

Hubby and I thought we’d look for a charity a little closer to home this year. Something local. After a bit of research and a lot of thought, we have decided to support the Starship Foundation.

Here’s a little about them:

Starship Hospital was opened in 1991. It was New Zealand’s first (and only) hospital built exclusively for children and young people and their health needs. Its prime focus is on delivering family-centred care in a child friendly environment. Starship Children’s Health is a dedicated paediatric healthcare service and major teaching centre, providing family centred care to children and young people throughout New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Except for croup and a broken arm, my girls have not been seriously sick. Many other children are not that lucky, and we are comforted knowing Starship is there should we need them. I went to the Starship website and found specific information on how we can donate/support them this Christmas. They have a list of toys and craft items the children would benefit most from, so we’re going to go shopping with that list, and hand deliver the gifts to Starship ourselves. I think our girls would really feel the spirit of Christmas if they see the end result of their gift.

We’re excited to start this new tradition with our family. I think it will be of great benefit to our children to serve others and emulate in this little way, the Savior and His teachings. How about you? How will you show charity this Christmas?