Christmas crafts are an inexpensive holiday gift.
Regardless of a family's financial situation, the Christmas holidays can still be a time of celebration and family. For low-income families, however, the holidays often can be a financial strain; money may not be available to purchase gifts. While agencies and charitable organizations are available to provide low-income families with new toys and clothes, families also can be creative and make their own gifts for one another. Does this Spark an idea?
Crafts
While crafts can be made as gifts for family members, they also offer a family an opportunity to share in the experience and make the crafts together. Christmas craft ideas can include ornaments, Christmas cards, paintings, wreaths, stockings and calendars. The crafts made during the Christmas holidays can be used to decorate the house for years to come and may even turn into a family holiday tradition.
IOUs
One gift idea for low-income families during the holidays is to give out IOUs. An IOU is an abbreviation for the phrase "I owe you" and is a promise from one person to another to provide a product or service. Families can be as creative as possible with their IOU gifts and a few ideas may involve promises to clean a room, help around the house, playtime or video games, offering to babysit, spend a day with mom or dad or breakfast in bed.
Charitable Organizations
Many local and national charitable organizations offer assistance to low-income families during the Christmas holiday season. While the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots accept and distribute toys and clothing for families in need, many local churches and non-profit organizations also offer services to local residents. Parents have the option of taking their children along to pick out the gifts or choosing the gifts themselves and wrapping them up for Christmas Day. Dinners also may be available during the holiday season.
Adopt-A-Family
Many individuals, families or businesses may also be interested in giving presents to low-income families during the holiday season. While opportunities are available to donate presents to an organization or local church, families also can adopt a family during the holidays. Low-income families are matched up with sponsors to help celebrate the holidays. The family sends over a Christmas list of items that they may need or want, including household items, clothes, unpaid bills and toys. Sponsors are asked to give at least two items for each family member and help provide food during the holidays as well.
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