Basket and Boxes
November 9th, 2007 by Thom
Isn’t this a great time of year for giving? Every year for the past several years our firm has done 2 specific outreaches in early November. I find them both to be inspiring and want to briefly share each with you.
One is we put together a Thanksgiving basket for a needy family in our local area. There are two particular things I like about this project. First, we do it anonymously. One of the staff here has a contact in the local school system. We drop the basket off to them and they make sure it goes to a local family that could really use it. Second, everyone in the Office has a part in the basket. We each sign up to bring in something. Everything from the turkey to the tablecloth and napkins is included. When all the items are in the basket it is a sight to behold! I know I have a wonderful feeling inside when it goes out the door.
The other project we do is the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Each year Samaritan’s Purse collects millions of gift wrapped shoeboxes, each filled with toys and other useful items that are then given to children in over 100 countries around the world. For many of these children it will be the only Christmas present they receive. Along with receiving a box every child has the opportunity to hear the gospel and the message of salvation. How awesome is that?! This year they expect to give out 8 million shoeboxes! And each of those boxes was wrapped and filled by people like you and me!
The great thing about doing this in the Office is that it involves our families as well. Everyone can be included and help from the little child to the grandparent. I don’t know of anyone who hasn’t enjoyed the experience and felt good after filling their box (or boxes). I know we enjoy shopping each year for the items for our boxes. It’s nice to see the boxes stack up in the conference room. However, the really humbling thing is to drop the boxes off at the nearby collection center. There in the fellowship hall of this church will be row after row of tables totally filled and stacked high with gift wrapped shoeboxes. The sight is incredible!
As we complete these projects for this year I am reminded how blessed I am to work for a company that looks beyond itself. Not everyone can say that and it’s something else for me to be thankful for today. Now, I’d be interested in reading about what others of you out there do as outreaches each year. Hope to hear from you.
Technorati Tags: wphArchitects, ChurchArchitects, TheMinistryCafe, Thanksgiving, OperationChristmasChild, Giving, Donation, Christmas
It is a great feeling to be a part of both the outreaches that Thom has spoken about. Another thing our family does that the children enjoy is to visit a home for the elderly and sing songs and share a bit af the holidays (cookies) with them.