One Way Every Day: December 7 - Give A Gift... Change A Life!

We all know the Christmas song "The Twelve days of Christmas." You know... the crazy song about someone receiving all kinds of crazy gifts for Christmas from their true love. Well, I have taken the liberty to rewrite the words a little bit... Hope you like it! You know the tune, feel free to sing along. Maybe you can be that caring stranger!

One the First Day of Christmas a caring stranger gave to me... Clothing and Medicines!
Give clothing and medicines. (Cost $60.) The lack of simple things — clothing and medicines — can have deadly consequences. For millions of boys and girls in the world's poorest countries, insufficient clothing and lack of basic medical care puts them at risk of life-threatening illnesses and infections. Your gift will help children avoid illness through protective shoes and clothing. And it will help treat illnesses by stocking clinics with medicine and supplies. You can help prevent thousands of children from suffering needlessly, and care for the ones whose lives are at risk right now.

On the Second Day of Christmas a caring stranger gave to me... Seeds for 2 Families!
Give seeds for two families. (Cost $34.) Impoverished farming families in countries like Thailand, Lesotho, and Zambia struggle to raise enough food for their children. The seeds they use may be of poor quality, or they may not be able to afford seeds at all. Your gift will offer two families a life-changing solution: fast-growing hybrid or drought-resistant seeds for a bounty of nutritious crops such as maize, rice, cassava, carrots, cabbage, green beans, peas, and onions. Surplus crops can be sold to supplement family income!

One the Third Day of Christmas a caring stranger gave to me... A Goat and Two Chickens! Give a goat and two chickens. (Cost $100.) Goats nourish hungry children and families with healthy milk, cheese, and yogurt. Chickens provide fresh eggs that are rich in protein and nutrients, and extra eggs and chicks can be sold to pay for basics. A dairy goat can give up to 16 cups of milk a day. Goat milk is easier to digest than cow’s milk and is an excellent source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients that growing children need. Goats are practical animals — flourishing in harsh climates while producing valuable manure to fertilize crops and vegetable gardens. Chickens are equally easy to raise, and will naturally multiply to impact generations of children. Each family that receives chickens is asked to give back hatched chicks to help another family in need. Chicks require little money, space, or food to thrive and grow — making them an ideal business venture for a single mom or vulnerable family.

One the Fourth Day of Christmas a caring stranger gave to me... Four Soccer Balls!
Give four soccer balls. (Cost $32.) Your gift of a soccer ball can replace a makeshift banana leaf ball or rounded wad of trash for an energetic boy or girl. And with a generous match from Baden™ Sports, your gift gives four new soccer balls instead of two! Children around the world love soccer more than any other sport. Yet many children in poverty have never played with a real toy — let alone an actual soccer ball. That’s because when basics like food and health care are scarce, there’s no money left over for simple pleasures. Instead, these children kick around plastic bags and old clothes tied with strings or old cords.

On the Fifth Day of Christmas a caring stranger gave to me... 5 Fruit Trees! Donate 5 fruit trees. (Cost $30.) Apple trees, orange trees, mango trees, and other healthy fruit trees provide the vitamins and nutrients growing kids need. Donate 5 fruit trees today to bless a family in poverty with a fresh start in fruit tree farming. A fruit tree orchard can produce enough fruit for vital income in just two to three years. Tree seedlings from the fully-grown fruit trees can then be used to help another family lift themselves out of poverty. Besides continually multiplying, your green gift is also good for the environment. Planting fruit trees prevents deforestation — a major cause of soil erosion that leads to poor farmland and devastating floods

You get the picture! I don't have to go on to 12...although there are many more than 12 great ways you can send a gift to help those in need this Christmas! There are over 100 unique gifts to choose from in the Gift Catalog.

Get Involved:

Check out World Vision's Gift Catalog to determine how you would like to make a difference!

Other ways to donate to World Vision.