Holiday Shopping for Good

     

     A bit different Monday post from what I have been doing-but no one needs to know how little I do about personal spruce up every week any way. This post I guess is sort of spruce up-but more sprucing up the feeling of doing good, appreciating our own blessings, giving back, and not letting consumerism run amok this holiday season. Meg B's comment the other day inspired me to think about gift shopping in different ways and put me onto other thoughts for  my weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here's her comment.

 "A dear friend posted that our local food bank is in dire need of donations of food and cash. I'm not sure how it is where you live, but our food bank is funded by the thrift shop. I chimed in on her post that if people didn't feel they were in a position to help with food bags, perhaps they could peruse the thrift shop first for gift ideas, saving themselves money, and supporting the less fortunate in the community at the same time."

     My girls love to thrift and I am getting better at it as well. Our local family service does have a smallish thrift shop, and definitely worth the look. We have other ways that we will support our local food shelf such as the t-shirts that will be sold for the virtual Gobble run, with options to add donations. Most of the money earned for the shirts are through advertisement or sponsorship from other local businesses, so happy to give them the visibility as well. 

     Back to Meg's suggestion, I just Googled "food banks with thrift stores" and a whole bunch of programs popped up. I refined a bit more for my geography and found three additional within 35 miles of us, one of which near family, and another near the discount  food store DD2 and I went to a few weeks back. We could combine some exploring, potentially find some great low cost gifts, and support the food bank in other communities as well as our own. 

     This idea also sits very well with trying to reduce the carbon footprint my family leaves behind. If there was a previously loved item that someone on my list might love as much, I've saved the first item from going into a landfill and avoided wasted resources on a new item. It's also a way to get sort of a one of a kind gift this year-things others around them will not have and was specifically selected for the recipient in mind, not mass marketed as the "best gift for 2020." For my immediate family a short list of items I'd look for include:

• vintage record albums
• vintage rings or pendants
• basic color and style jeans, skirts, and jackets-with real wear, not manufactured distressed materials
• Flannel!! Particularly if it is the insulated style as the girls and DS wear as jackets
• Books-again, for all three kids, and perhaps  photography books for DD1, DS, and DH, pretty glossy ones 
• Serving platters-for DD1 who is a really good cook and baker, and a lovely platter for her treats might be appreciated
• Any vintage  Pyrex, corning ware, Tupperware-things that just get updated, but functionality they remain the same

     Other things might be brand new items never even used, and passed on to the thrift store. Many of those items are used for family Christmas boxes-I donate those items each year, items specifically for teen boys and girls, and young adults. 

     I know some folks might still be nervous about buying second hand stuff, but I think if clothing items are washed, and other items are sealed and left for a while, or wiped down with  disinfectant, what's the difference from a new item that dozens of people might have handled in a store? My concern is more the shopping part itself, as the longest I have been in a store has been 30 minutes if that, as I have my list, and go in and get out. Thrift shopping might require me to do more looking in the store, though I think it's easy to tell fairly quickly if it is viable or not. What are your thoughts on looking at our shopping a bit differently this year? I welcome our opinions and views. 

     I'm also thinking of how to keep tightening my grocery budget so that I have more resources to donate locally so all families can celebrate. Be ready for more posts, perhaps repeats of recipes that are satisfying, but cost so little per serving that I can stretch, and stick that money towards my giving. I'll also keep an eye to buying extras to things that families will need when school is out-as not sure what the school lunch support will look like after the first of the year. 

     I'm not all altruistic, as some of this thinking is so I can give generously in my own family where there is need. With my son not coming home, I want to  send a little money his way to purchase his and his roommates/friends own turkey and the trimmings, and a nice candy/fruit/nut box delivered between Thanksgiving and Christmas, hopefully sourced from a local business in his community. My sister always had bought her husband a sausage and cheese box-their little tradition. Her first Christmas without him will be hard and I thought it might be nice to do that for her and use an in town family butcher/cheese shop that is pricey, but darn good. We also have a couple friends who lost parents this year. I'd like to gift them a belated plant or wreath (again buying from a local business), or something that might bring them some comfort knowing we care. 

     I've got other ideas on gift giving a little differently, and may plug a few etsy businesses,   e-bay sellers, poshmark, or self fulfillers. If you have ideas you'd like to suggest, pop in the comments, Or as I moderate, if your own business, you could put the link and a description of the shop and who, what countries, states, or regions could be patrons, I'll work them into future posts. Mostly, I just want Christmas 2020 to be one where people in my life know I care. If ever a time that the spirit should not be about  stuff, this is the year.