Giving is Easier than Receiving

It's true. It's easier to help someone than it is to ask for help. Well... at least it is for me. I assume I'm not alone in this. Here's a chance for you to work out your giving/receiving muscles - drop off some donated items at GR2 or GR Silverlake for Aviva Family and Children's Services! They do good things all year long, and they're probably like everyone else right now, working really hard to try to make resources last and keep spirits up.

I've got a couple more bags full of new and gently used stuff that I know someone will appreciate more than I will, and I'm sure you've got some items too. Drop them off, feel good about helping someone who needs it, and ponder on the grandness of the bigger picture - how when we honor others, give more and find more value in people than we do in things, then we're giving ourselves the best gift of all.


Here's Aviva's wish list for the holidays:

Gifts ideas for teenage girls in residence
Back packs (always needed)
Batteries (always needed)
Beauty items
Board games – all ages
Books – fiction and non-fiction – all ages
Boom box radios or alarm clock radios
Calendars
Card games – Uno, Old Maid, Go Fish
CD boombox
Costume jewelry
Desk lamps
Diaries / Journals (very popular with the girls)
Discmans
Gift certificates to fast food places, book/music, clothing stores
Hair accessories
Jewelry appropriate for teen girls
Lotions and body splashes
Nail polish sets
Make-up sets
Night lights - plastic
Phone cards with maximum 30 minutes
Phone book/organizers
Photo frames, albums, scrapbooks & supplies Arts & craft supplies
Posters – movies, motivational; music
School supplies – needed for high school students
Storage containers for personal items (cute for room)
Toy characters Disney/Warner Bros./Sesame St.
Videos & DVDs – PG –PG13 movies/music concerts

For our foster children – boys and girls 0-18
Action figures
Arts and craft kits
Baby clothes and toys
Basketballs
Board games – all ages
Boom boxes
Cars and trucks (Remote operated, Micro etc)
Cologne and perfume popular with teens
Discmans
Dolls – Barbie and other type – all ethnic groups
Gift certificates to fast food places, book/music, clothing
Learning toys (baby to primary grades)
Lego’s or building toys
Phone book/organizers
Posters – movies, motivational; music
Pre-school toys like Fisher Price
Puzzles – all ages
Stuffed animals and beanie babies
Toy cars
Toy characters - Disney/Warner Bros./Sesame St.
Watches – ladies and men’s for teens

Activity supplies needed
Balls – volley and basketball, Nerf
Beads and baubles for projects
Craft project sets (jewelry, scrap booking)
Gym mats for yoga
Magazine subscriptions appropriate for teen girls