Goodwill to all Men
My house is decorated to the nines, with not one but two trees, lights, tinsel and baubles from top to bottom. I have been driving around in 36 degrees with the air-con in my car turned to maximum freeze and belting out Christmas hits with Michael Buble for weeks now. I am filled with joy as I walk through decorated malls piping out Christmassy smells of gingerbread and I smile stupidly at the Christmas window displays (passing strangers must think me slightly deranged). I love shopping and stockings, mince pies and mistletoe, Father Christmas and Fairy Tale of New York!
And yet, it is often not until Christmas Eve when, with my children alongside me at the Christingle Service and listening once again to the Nativity story, that I pause and remember just what Christmas is really all about. I am reminded that Christmas is a celebration festival, marking that God gave the gift of his son to the world in order to make the world a better place; to teach us how to be kinder, better, more caring.
Christmas is the time of year when we are reminded that we too should give a little bit more than can be found in a shopping centre. And whether you believe the Christian root of the celebration seems, to me, not to really matter. Without the Christ part it is still good to be reminded annually to be gentler with each other, to be nicer. Lets all practice ‘goodwill to all men’ at each religious and cultural festival whether it be Christian, Chinese, Muslim, Jewish or Hindu or other and we could probably have every month of the year covered!
This Christmas therefore I am going to let the spirit of Christmas, its original meaning guide me and amidst the glitter and gifts I am going to bring glad-tidings as well.
Here are four simple ways to make your Christmas charitable:
1. Give your time to others
If you have some time to give to others why not help collect and distribute bread to the hungry in Singapore this Christmas or volunteer to cook meals in the Soup Kitchen. If you are looking for a more Christmassy theme, join the Salvation Army collection volunteers and ring some bells outside Tangs or join Toys from the Heart to wrap some toys for children who otherwise would receive nothing.
2. Give a gift to strangers
Having a clear-out prior to Christmas to make room for new gifts? Then drop your pre-loved toys at the Royal Plaza on Scotts from where they will make their way to needy children this Christmas. Join the Boys Brigade festive Charity drive and donate a food hamper or pay for the wish of an elderly Singaporean to come true this Christmas.
3. Organise a fund raising event
Christmas is the perfect time to organise a work or school fundraising event. Set up a ‘Wear a Christmas jumper’ collection, sell mince-pies or offer to wrap presents for a donation to a charity of your choice. If organising a sponsored event why not set up a fundraising page on Give.Asia to manage your campaign. Joining in a Santa Run? Make it easy for people to support you and the cause.
4. Give a desperately needed donation
Time short and the ‘to-do’ list long? Don’t worry, the most straightforward way to give and to share goodwill this Christmas is to donate directly to those who need it the most. The easiest way to get your money to a cause you care about is to visit the Give.Asia Christmas campaigns page where you can choose to spread some Christmas cheer to orphans in Uganda or Cambodia, buy a gift for the under-appreciated hawker-centre janitors or bring Santa to a terminally ill child in hospital. The choice of whom to bless this Christmas is yours.
Lucy-Ann Dale
