How to Spread Warmth and Hope

Tips to Create Gift Bags for the Homeless This Christmas

The holiday season is a time for giving, and there's no better way to show compassion than by helping those in need. One impactful way to make a difference is by creating gift bags for homeless individuals.  

A gallon-sized plastic bag filled with essential items can provide much-needed comfort and support during the coldest months of the year. This can be a class project, or students can create bags as individual projects. 

I sent a letter home to parents inviting them to create bags with their children as a great opportunity to teach children about compassion and giving back to the community. My letter made it very clear that his project would not receive a grade and that it was entirely voluntary. I was pleasantly surprised at how many participated. 

What to Include in the Gift Bags

When assembling your gift bags, focus on practical items that can improve the daily lives of those experiencing homelessness. Ensure all items are new or gently used and packaged in clean bags.

Warmth and Comfort:

Thick socks 

Beanies

Gloves

Scarves

Blankets (small, travel-sized)

Hygiene Essentials

Toothbrushes and toothpaste

Soap

Sunscreen

Deodorant

Wet wipes

Lip balm
Nourishment:

Protein bars

Granola bars

Nuts and seeds

Water bottles

Additional Items:

Rain ponchos

Band-aids and first-aid supplies

Individually wrapped tissues

Making it Personal

To add a personal touch, consider including a handwritten note of encouragement.

Where to Distribute Your Gift Bags

There are several ways to distribute your gift bags:

• Local Homeless Shelters: Contact your local homeless shelter to inquire about their needs and donation procedures.

• Soup Kitchens and Food Banks: These organizations often interact with individuals experiencing homelessness and can distribute the bags on your behalf.

• Outreach Programs: Many cities have organizations dedicated to helping the homeless. Research local options and see how you can partner with them.

By creating and distributing gift bags, you can make a tangible impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness. Your generosity can bring warmth, comfort, and hope during the holiday season and beyond. It makes an excellent class or group project.

I have a free resource for your students to help them get into the spirit of the season.

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Thanks for reading. I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season. 

Charlene

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Cherish the Holiday Memories

When I was a child, we had a large, extended family and everyone came to a big party at my parents' house on Christmas Eve to celebrate. We always gathered around the piano and sang Christmas Carols, ate delicious snacks and desserts, and then bundled up to drive to a neighborhood known for its beautiful decorations. We walked along together viewing the pretty lights. 

On Christmas morning, the children opened their gifts, and after church, we had a huge Christmas dinner that various members of the family had prepared. We even had fun while washing the mountains of dishes left behind. It was a joyous, boisterous, magical time for all of us. 

I think it would be safe to say that family holiday traditions evolve as families grow. After marriage, spouses bring the traditions from each of their families and blend them into new and special ones to share with each other and their children.
Now, our extended family has scattered to many distant locations due to their jobs. We are still very close in matters of the heart, but it is impossible for all of us to get together like we did in the past. Now, our tradition includes using the same recipes that our mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, and cousins used to create scrumptious meals for our own smaller families. 

We refer to the dishes by name: Mema's dressing, Vi's pumpkin torte, Ken's pecan pie, Aunt Kay's green jello salad, and Aunt Mimi's yeast rolls. Even our children know whom to credit for the delicious food on our table. And when our grandchildren are old enough, the recipes will pass to them to recreate and share with their future families.

I think our children and their children will remember holiday celebrations with their senses. What did they see that was magical? What did they hear that made them smile and sing along or made them tear up when the church choir sang Gloria. What will they remember touching like soft blankets or crisp ribbons on packages?

Gifts delight children and adults as well, but many of us will remember the fragrance of yeast rolls baking in the oven or the taste of pecan pie with whipped cream or some other favorite family dessert long after the memory of a present received has faded. 

I think it is important for students to cherish the memories they have of holiday traditions with their families. Click here for a free activity they can do before or after the Holidays.

I hope that your holiday season is beautiful in every way and that your wish upon a star comes true.

Thanks for reading,

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Christmas Traditions Bring Joy

Mema's Cornbread Dressing

Alice Bourland (1917-2008)

This was my beautiful mother’s famous recipe for cornbread dressing. We had it for Thanksgiving and for Christmas dinner. The turkey was not the focus of our meal; Mema’s Dressing was everybody’s favorite. We would pour gravy over it and eat it for days. 

CORNBREAD (Make at least one day early so it can dry out a little. If possible, make in on Sunday before Thanksgiving or three days before Christmas and then leave it out on the counter. Also, dry out a loaf of bread and use for breadcrumbs or buy a bag of breadcrumbs or croutons. Just be sure they are not seasoned because that will alter the taste.

After my youngest grandson was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I began making it with gluten free flour and gluten free corn meal. It is as good as ever! Note the modifications you can make if you wish to make this dish gluten free.

Triple this cornbread recipe for a large amount of dressing to feed several people. (It’s better to mix it up and bake it in three batches.)

1 cup yellow cornmeal  (Use gluten free cornmeal.)

4 tablespoons flour (Use gluten free flour.)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon melted shortening (or vegetable oil)

1 egg

1 cup buttermilk (Very important. Don't use sweet milk.)

Mix cornmeal, flour, soda, and salt. Beat egg and add to buttermilk. Then pour this mixture into the sifted dry ingredients, add 1 tablespoon melted shortening (or vegetable oil) and stir only until well mixed. Grease an 8X8 pan. (If you have one, bake the cornbread in an iron skillet.) Pour batter into hot, greased pan. Bake at 425 degrees about 30 to 35 minutes, or until brown.

DRESSING

large bunch of celery

1 large yellow onion

poultry seasoning (Very important. Don't use anything else.) (Use gluten free poultry seasoning.)

3 cans chicken broth (Use gluten free chicken broth.)

butter

dry cornbread (crumbled)

dry bread (Add enough to make the mixture stick together well) (Use gluten free bread or gluten free croutons.)

Chop celery and onion and sauté in butter until soft and clear in color. Crumble cornbread and bread in a large bowl. Add celery and onion mixture. Add chicken broth a little at a time until you get the thick consistency of muffin dough. Add poultry seasoning a teaspoon at a time. This will make it salty and give it its unique flavor. Taste until it tastes like Mema's dressing. (For those who did not know and love Mema, just suit your own taste.) Grease one rectangular baking dish with oil. Bake at 350º until dressing is brown and crusty on top. (35-45 minutes.) If you want stuffing inside the turkey, stuff it with raw dressing before you put it in the oven.

I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe. For our family, it simply would not be Christmas without Mema's dressing.


Here's a link to two FREE activities that the whole family could do for fun after dinner. 

I hope you enjoy the holidays with your family and friends. 
This blog post has been updated and reposted. Thanks for reading,