Although the 30-Day Giving Challenge is now behind us, the desire to GIVE is not. I can’t pass by a bell-ringer and a red bucket without throwing in whatever is lingering at the bottom of my purse I can.
But what other ways can we give during this shopping-crazed month? Have you considered adopting an Angel Tree recipient this year?
The Angel Tree program is like the ultimate “Secret Santa”. The giver never meets the receiver, but the act of kindness goes a long way.
A few weeks ago, I was at the vet for yet another emergency visit {sigh}, and I noticed a Christmas Tree in the lobby adorned with Angel tags. I walked over for a closer look, and the first one I saw caught my eye:
I felt my heart leap into my throat as I read what this 15 year old boy had put on his wish list. Without hesitation, I knew this was the tag for me. I would be Oscar’s “Angel”.
I was so excited to share this little project with my family. My 9 year old was rather stunned by the simplicity of Oscar’s list, but she was on board.
A few days later, I received an email from a Sears representative. Sears has recently taking the plunge into the Social Media ocean and is working with bloggers to get the word out about special sales and values.
They offered to send me a $200 Sears Gift Card to complete my holiday shopping, along with a giveaway for my readers. Since I am actually not a Sears shopper, I was intrigued by the possibility of discovering what they have to offer. Then I remembered Oscar.
This opportunity was a perfect fit for the Giving Challenge. Thankfully I have a Christmas budget, a list, and Swagbucks, of course, so I really do not need this gift card. But Oscar does.
So I accepted the offer from Sears, and eagerly planned my shopping excursion. I waited for their special VIP Savings Night event so I could stretch that gift card as far as possible. About once a month, Sears offers an extra 10-15% discount on nearly everything in the store. Last night was that night.
Let me tell you, it is so much more fun shopping for a complete stranger than for your own family members! I was rather clueless when it came to shopping for a 15 year old boy, but I think I did okay.
Cologne Gift Set, Socks, 3 Shirts
Total Cost After Discount= $69.66
2 Standard Pillows
Cost After Discount= $12.73
Microwave
Cost After Discount=$62.99
I was pleasantly surprised by my shopping experience at Sears. The store was clean, organized, and carries just about everything you can imagine! The employees were helpful and courteous, even at the end of a busy shopping weekend.
But most of all, I was surprised by the grand total: $157.13 after tax. We came in under budget!
My shopping buddy, aka sister, insisted I buy a little something for myself with the leftover funds. Something fun. Something extravagant. Something like…
A Sleek New Toaster Oven!!
This was on sale for $39.97, plus 10% off. Pretty sweet, right? 😉
Today I dropped off Oscar’s gifts at my Vet’s office. Next week they will have a big wrapping party and deliver all the donations to the children of Lena Pope Home. I am not sure who will be more blessed- me or Oscar.
Find your local Angel Tree program at many local schools, businesses or churches. If you want an easy way to find one online, check out the Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree program.
Stay tuned, I have a giveaway coming up this week! Two lucky readers will win a $50 Gift Card to enjoy at Sears or Kmart.
Keep on GIVING this month! Remember those in need as your complete your holiday shopping.
We are doing the Angel tree this year. I want to remind my teens that there are so many without and lucky they are and hopefully instill some good enough values that they’ll want to help others like that on their own;)
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I think what you did is awesome to help someone out. But I have a concern…..would you have spent that much money on someone if it would have came out of your pocket. I love your site and follow it daily but this post really concerns me.
I think you missed an important line in the post. “A few days later, I received an email from a Sears representative.” Alyssa picked the angel tag BEFORE the email from SEARS. Sounds like a God thing to me! She was going to give anyway, but you can’t out give God. Awesome job, Alyssa, and I am in total tears that a 15yo boy’s biggest wish is a microwave. 🙁
.-= Amy @ Finer Things´s last blog ..Menu Plan, Week of December 6 =-.
I know Alyssa personally, and I have to say I am sure she would have purchased these gifts whether she had a gift card from Sears or not. Of course she would have shopped around and found the absolute best deal because that is who she is, but she is one of the most generous and kind people I have ever met. She never hesitates to help someone out in need, even if it means digging deep into her own pocketbook.
Toni
.-= The Happy Housewife´s last blog ..Free Shipping from Amazon.com and ChristianBook.com =-.
I think you miss the greater point here. People with strong faith can’t help but notice the connection between the good they do and the good that God imparts on them in return.
I pull off the highway and give $2 to a man with a sign asking for a donation. As I approach the parking garage expecting to pay $10, a free spot opens in front. You call it what you will, but my inclination is to look up and say thanks.
Alyssa’s kindness was returned even before she finished the project, this surprises anyone? It’s the Big Guy’s ™ way of saying “I got this one.” I’d never take it for granted, but for some it happens all the time.
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I agree with everyone above! It was an amazing thing to pick someone in need to purchase gifts for this holiday season! It was even more amazing that God saw this and helped even more! God works in mysterious ways! The love and kindness shown in shopping for someone you don’t even know is unmeasurable! I hope God continues to bless Alyssa for showing this kind of love to others!
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My family growing up always adopted an “angel” from church at Christmas, and I am determined to continue the tradition with my girls. This year, I adopted our angels through JC Penny online, which was really convenient. Then I just have to drop the packages at our local salvation army. We adopted two little girls approximately the same ages as ours, and I’d like to make this our tradition.
Reading this post brought tears to my eyes. We used to do Angel tree every year and my girls loved it. When we moved to a new town going on 4 years ago we discovered that they had some special Christmas gift donations going on at the girls school. Their school partners with the Salvation Army and all the gifts collected go to children in their school who are in need. (they go to a K-8 facility). So every year we turn in all our extra goodies/toys there. It does my heart good to know that someone maybe my daughters age will have some new presents under their tree even though their parents can’t afford it.
God Bless You
~Amber
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Kerosotes Theaters Five Buck Club =-.
I love reading all your stories of how you give. It really inspires me and this year I got our church to participate in Operation Christmas Child. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
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What a wonderful example of God’s perfection – a boy in need, you being led to pick his angel, the timing of your gift card opportunity. God is good!
You have inspired me to search for an Angel Tree the next time I’m out! Thanks for sharing your sweet story.
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Oh, Lyss, this post brought tears to my eyes! I cannot believe you got him his microwave! That is so thoughful… Oscar is going to be so surprised this Christmas! I wish I could see his face!
What a beautiful post, and a reminder to us all of the power of giving… and that giving isn’t about money, or where it came from, but giving comes from the heart, no matter the amount!
.-= Amy @ Amy Loves It!´s last blog ..Giveaway: The Couponizer! =-.
That is so wonderful! We will be doing the angel tree this year too. I always try to choose an older child to buy for because I think everyone picks the little ones and the older ones are the last on the tree! I hope I find an Oscar to bless 🙂
I absolutely love it when God works things out so nicely- a perfect situation for everyone involved! Oscar is going to be so delighted and what a wonderful experience to be able to give like this. I also love that, while it was a gift card you were given to use, you were an excellent steward of the funds and waited for the sales to stretch your dollars. Good for you!
We have a giving tree in our church vestibule and the things listed this year are all so practical. The tag I randomly pulled requested “4 tubes toothpaste and 4 toothbrushes”- all things I’ve gotten for free from CVS. I plan to pull another tag or two this week since I saw there were still many left.
Thanks for reminding us all how special this way of giving can be!
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I want to apologize for my previous post. I know it should not matter where the money/gifts come from. Our God is an amazing and powerful God. Satan got ahold of me today and I apologize.
Really what a great blessing you have been for Oscar I am sure. Every year we do a tree, last year we did a tree for foster kids, since a couple of my kids work in retail we were able to have a fun time buying toys and clothes, and my kids got to wrap which they love.. There are so many more people in need now then ever..This year we chose a tree for the relief nursery.. This is a place that child protective services runs as a relief place for high risk parents..my kids love doing these blessings, they are only a little disappointed they can’t watch the kids face when they open their presents..:)
God bless you Alyssa
Erika
Thanks for sharing. While I was at Hallmark yesterday I almost gave my $5 coupon to someone there to use, but then I used it myself!! I wish I could have shared how I gave it to someone and made them happy, it would have been better! On facebook yesterday my husband said, ”Why does Santa always give better toys to kids with rich parents?’ even though he was semi joking, I’m glad you helped make that statement untrue. I think its great you got something for yourself too, that’s important. We use our toaster oven all the time. That looks like a nice one for a good price too!
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What a blessing!
I immediately called my local Salvation Army to see if the sign up deadline had approached and it did. Bummer!
I was hoping to sign up our son for the angel tree program.
.-= Rona´s last blog ..Menu Monday Plan – December 7, 2009 =-.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! My husband and I LOVE participating in the Angel Tree program. Every we select a child who wants a bike. There’s just something so great about getting that perfect bike on Christmas day…I can remember getting one myself. Since we don’t have children, we LOVE shopping in the toy stores and kids sections that we otherwise don’t venture into. I just get so happy while we’re shopping for our Angel Tree kid. I think of how happy his/her parents are going to be when they get these gifts to put under the tree for their child. It’s not only about the children…it’s about the stress that we can take off of the parents too by helping them provide for their children. What an awesome God we serve!
That is just so amazing how God is allowing you to fufill this simple request for a 15 year old. Wow! Amazing! I totally am with Amy, we can’t out give God…ever.
Before we got married, my husband always bought for an angel and now we are doing it together. There’s nothing like giving to another person. Okay, now I have tears in my eyes too.
We know a lady who lost her husband recently, is caring for her 2 very young grandchildren, and is about to lose her home. We are taking her shopping this weekend to buy Christmas gifts for her grandchildren.
The Scriptures say it best, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
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since our first Christmas together, giving to others is a tradition for our season. we used to go through the US Postal Service (not sure if they still do this) but you could get one of the “mailed Santa” letters from children.
more recently, we always “adopt a child” similar to the angel tree, through my husband’s work. we’re up to 2 children a year and try for children similar in age to our own. it’s a tradition that the whole family shops together for these unknown children. with a very simple wish list on hand, we set out to fill both needs and wants. without fail, every Christmas morning our own children “fantasize” about the reaction on the faces we’ll never see. warms your heart to teach compassion!
We do an angel every year. However, this is the first year I have ever “couponed” and comparison shopped to get the best deals. It was so much fun to scoop the different stores for the best deals before we went shopping for our angel. We were able to do more with what God has given us. Thanks for all your tips.
I loved your story!!! Brought tears to my eyes. I, too, get really excited buying things for strangers and imagining their reactions (I have to because I never get to meet them!). It is especially uplifting. Love your blog. Blessings to you and your family.
Merry Christmas!!
Oscar, is so blessed to have a family like yours pick him. I can just tell your family has a BIG heart.
You just made my heart smile! You are an absolutely beautiful person!
I have another experience today that made me think of this post and comments. Friday, my daughter came home with a note from school. They were collecting food for the local shelter, and her class had canned soup on the list. I saw the week’s grocery store ad showing $1 soup (Progresso, usually $2 or more) but with a $5 back coupon if you buy 15 cans. So I told her I’d use that deal to up our donation from the usual 4-6 cans, and I’d pick up 15. I checked for coupons and had $5 worth, so I’d be out of pocket $5 in the end. At checkout, the register spits out 2 $5 off next purchase coupons to me. I told my daughter at dinner tonight, and asked “what does that tell you?” Answer – God’s way of saying thanks for running the errand.
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