November 2011 Widow's Challenge Update!

Did you participate in the November Food Drive? I'd love to hear more about your efforts! Here are the two bags of food I donated to local families in need, spending about $2 per week out of my grocery budget. I got several cans of corn and green beans on sale for $.33 each at a local grocery store. Also included: corn bread mix, boxed potatoes, soups, and stuffing.

Thank you to everyone who participated with me! It is such an easy way to bless the hungry when we allocate a dollar or two each week to donating food, especially since us savvy shoppers can stretch that dollar pretty far!

And, just for fun, here's a few pictures from our Thanksgiving celebration:

Cherry and Apple Pies!

Thank you, Nin, for the cute napkin holders!

Jesse, smoking a pipe while smoking a turkey. :)

Anna's place setting. She was very intrigued by the cloth napkin and holder.

Post dinner, watching Mickey Mouse with grandpa!

Christmas tree and decorations went up on Black Friday!

November 2011 Widow's Challenge: Thanksgiving Food Drive!

Last November's Food Drive, spending $3/week!

I'm bringing last year's November Challenge back again this year, as I think it is a wonderful challenge for us as Thanksgiving approaches. And you may  be quite surprised at how God can stretch your dollar to help others (I certainly was last year)!

I would like to make it more of a habit to set aside a couple dollars each week throughout the year for charity. Here is my challenge from last year, you can tweak the amount you want to set aside for your own personal challenge (even $1 a week can make a big difference):

1. Set aside $3 from your weekly grocery budget.  I recommend actually having $3 in cash set aside, as this makes it more tangible then just mentally and on your debit card. Also, this is not $3 additionally to your grocery budget, but from your budget (hopefully you have a budget)... therefore, think of an item or two that you can give up during the next month in order to give $3 to those who are less fortunate. 
2. How far can you make that $3 stretch each week?  If your new to coupons, check out Couponing 101's post on Coupon Basics, for tips and information on how to use coupons successfully and stretch your dollar (this will be a good challenge for you to try couponing). Non perishable foods are best, but check out your local food pantry as some do take perishable food in certain conditions. Also, check out your local grocery store's best deals each week by heading to Money Saving Mom and clicking on your specific store.
3. Investigate your options for local food pantries and choose the pantry you will be donating to. Check out your local pantry's website or call them to see if there are any restrictions or information you should know before donating items. Get your friends to attempt the challenge, too. $3 is something most of us can set aside from what we're already spending. 

I plan on dropping off my collected items to our church's youth group on November 22, as they will then be donating the food to local families in need. I'd love to hear where you are donating your food items to this year!
 
Remember, what's most important is not how much we can give, but that we choose to give.

Excited? I am!  Ready, set, go!

New to the "Widow's Challenge"? Check out what the Widow's Challenge is all about.

October 2011 Widow's Challenge: Pack an OCC Shoe Box!

I'm only about 3 weeks late on this month's Widow's Challenge... better late than never, right? For the October Widow's Challenge, I simply encourage you to pack a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child. Though hard-to-believe, it's almost that time of year again to fill and drop off a shoe box! National Collection Week is November 14-21 (find a drop off location near you). Also, there are many acceptable items that you may already have in your pantry or in your stock pile that could be added to your shoe box. Handmade toys, hats, blankets, and other items work, too, if you are crafty and creative! You can also follow your box and see which country it ends up in by sending in your donation online.

Over 8 million shoe boxes were delivered to needy children all over the world, including some in the U.S., last year alone. The impact of a simple gift, with each shoe box containing the Gospel message and discipleship opportunities, is unfathomable. Operation Christmas Child is one ministry of Samaritan's Purse, an incredibly well run and God-grounded organization.

If you're filling an OCC shoe box this year, I would love to hear about your experience! Do you know of anyone who, as a child, received a shoe box? What was the shoe box's impact on his/her life?

What are some of your favorite items to put in a shoe box? Any tips for filling one and getting the most items in? Do you wrap your box?

For more information on how to pack an Operation Christmas Child shoebox, see the Samaritan's Purse OCC site.

New to the Widow's Challenge? Find out what it is about and how to start your first challenge!

Did you create a Blessings Bag?

I'm a bit behind with my Widow's Challenge section! How did your September Blessing Bags go? Did you fill one?

If you did, let me know in the comments section! What did you include in your bag?

September 2011 Widow's Challenge: Create a Homeless Blessing Bag!

Photo: Joy's Hope

I loved this idea from Kids with a Vision on how to create a homeless Blessing Bag to keep in your car for a future "Providential moment." When you come across a homeless person in need, you will already be prepared to help with a tangible bag of needed items as well as a note of encouragement and/or list of community resources! Also, use this opportunity to enclose an evangelistic tract with the Gospel message.

Ideas of items to include in your Blessing Bag from the KWAV site:

 

• chap stick
• packages of tissues
• toothbrush and toothpaste
• comb
• soap
• trail mix
• granola bars
• crackers
• pack of gum
• band aids
• mouthwash
• coins (could be used to make a phone call, or purchase a food item)
• hand wipes
• you could also put in a warm pair of socks, and maybe a Starbucks gift card

 

How many of these items do you currently have in your stockpile? How many could you get for free in the next month? This September's Widow's Challenge is to create a Blessing Bag! I would love to see your finished bags and hear how much you paid for the items in your bag. 

Thank you for blessing the homeless among us!

Donating for Free: My To-Do List.

How far can I stretch my current stockpile? I return home tomorrow from a wonderful stay in the Rockies and have several goals after a week away:

• Create a Homeless Blessing Bag (I love this idea!)
• Send a package of needed items to August's featured ministry, Fort Wayne Rescue Mission Ministries
• Send a Disaster Relief Box to Hurricane Irene flood victims (also see here)

The August 2011 Widow's Challenge proved to be rather timely as Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast at the end of the month. I have accumulated some great, donatable freebies to add to the Disaster Relief Boxes for flood stricken areas of the Northeast. I encourage you to keep signing up for freebies; you'll be amazed at how quickly your mailbox fills up with high quality, free products! And easy come, easy go... you can then bless others in need with these freebies.

August 2011 Widow's Challenge: Stock Up for Future Disaster Relief Boxes!

Photo Credit

According to the National Hurricane Center, the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season (which we are currently in) is predicted to be above average with twelve to eighteen named storms, six to ten hurricanes, and three to six major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or above. Natural disasters can happen at any time to any area of the country and world. We have already seen great crisis situations internationally in Japan, Sudan, and Kenya, but also within our own borders in Joplin, Tuscaloosa, and Minot, to only name a few.

This August Widow's Challenge is to be proactive and prepare now to help people found in these future emergency situations. My personal goal is to see how many useful supplies I can get for free through signing up for freebies, playing the Drugstore Game, and couponing, which can go directly into a disaster relief box. I will then have it ready to ship to the next U.S. city in need.

Want to join me in this challenge? I would love to see and share pictures of your disaster relief boxes as you fill them. You can either try to get as many supplies for free, like myself, or you can set a budget per week of what you want to set aside for this cause (say $3/week). It's completely up to you.

Also, above all else, remember to pray for these places. Much conflict and suffering is still occurring in the above mentioned cities and countries.

P.S. I am not always on top of the times, at least as much as I would like to be, so if you know of a need that you would like featured on Fru-Gal, please contact me.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 
2 Corinthians 9:12-15

July Fru-Gal Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Anna Z for winning July's Fru-Gal Giveaway of a $5 Amazon gift card by sharing more about her charity/ministry of choice. Anna submitted the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission Ministries as her ministry of choice. According to their website, "the purpose of Fort Wayne Rescue Mission Ministries is to provide a home for the homeless, food for the hungry, and hope for their future through the love of Jesus Christ."

Fort Wayne Rescue ministries is a member of The Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, which represents 300 rescue missions and other ministries that minister to homeless and poor people in the inner cities of the United States and Canada. Since 1913, AGRM member ministries have offered emergency food and shelter, youth and family services, prison and jail outreach, rehabilitation, and specialized programs for the traumatized, the elderly, the urban poor and street youth. -Better Business Bureau

I hope to have some ideas posted soon on how to easily bless this featured ministry.

Thanks, Anna! Check your e-mail for information on your prize.

July 2011 Widow's Challenge: Research and Choose a Charity!

char-i-ty \ˈcher-ə-tē\

1. benevolent goodwill or love of humanity

2. a: generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or  suffering; also: aid given to those in need 

    b: an institution engaged in relief of the poor 

    c: public provision for the relief of the needy
 
There are many wonderful charities for a variety of causes out there. Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by all the needs in the world, and because of it, we decide we can't make much of a difference. In the end, we are scattered and become ineffective. However, as in many areas of life, when you have a goal and focus, much can be accomplished for the glory of God.

So this month's Widow's Challenge is fairly straightforward, though it may take some time and energy for you in researching. First of all, think of what you are passionate about and what matters most to you. It could be a medical issue like cancer or Alzheimer's, or it could be a social issue, like orphans or persecuted Christians, or it could be something completely unique. Whatever it is, if it is close to your heart, then donating will be easier and even fun! Then, research the charities/ministries available that fit your passion and select one that will become your primary charity. That's it for this month's challenge!

Please enter the name and brief description of your chosen charity by clicking on the image below. At the end of the month, one charity will be randomly drawn, promoted on this blog, and have support raised for it.  Also, by entering your charity of choice, you'll be in the running for a $5 Amazon gift card!

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. 
-Proverbs 11:25


New to the Widow's Challenge? Check out what it's all about! 

Enter the Fru-Gal Freebie Giveaway!

June is already coming to a close, and so is the June Widow's Challenge, which challenged us to gather and then give away freebies!  How did you do with signing up for freebies? Where will you give yours?

I've decided to give mine away to one fortunate reader! AND I'm excited to announce that this is my first of many giveaways on Fru-Gal! This giveaway includes (2) Gillette ProGlide Razors, Huggies Pull-Ups Wipes, Alpo Prime Cuts Dog Food, 45 ct. Bio-35 ProBiotics, and more!

To enter this Fru-Gal Giveaway, submit your name and e-mail address. There will be one random drawing to choose the winner! The winner will be drawn and announced after the holiday weekend, on July 5th. Freebies will be shipped to you at no cost to yourself. Best wishes!

Since many freebies take 6-8 weeks to arrive from the manufacturer, I plan on waiting a couple more weeks before sending out the complete prize. I will also send the winner a full list of the items beforehand, so that they can decide if they want all available freebies or just a selection (i.e. you may not have a dog for the Alpo dog food or a baby for the Huggies wipes). The remainder will be given away to charity.

5 Minute Give Challenge: Pick a Freebie & Give it Away!

This 5 Minute Give Challenge complements the June Widow's Challenge nicely. In this 5 minute challenge, grab one of the freebies listed below and purposefully give it to someone (it can be anyone you choose). I'd love to hear in the comments section what freebie you got and who you gave it to. Ready...Set...Give!

Free Lipton Iced Tea

Free Dentek Easy Brush Sample

Free Tub-O-Towels Sample

Free Mini Book from MyPublisher

Free Father's Day Card @ Tiny Prints

June 2011 Widow's Challenge: Gather & Give Away Your Freebies!

Does signing up for freebies really make a difference on your budget? Is it worth the effort? I would say a resounding "Yes!" In the past few weeks, I have received free Cottonelle wipes, Suave Professionals hairspray, Zyrtec, Osteo Bi-Flex, a Febreze Luminary Kit and Wooden Wick Candle, Nescafe Coffee Sampler, Gillette Fusion Razor, and even a free quart of Glidden paint, among other items! From medicines to toiletries to food, it's very possible to score a lot of quality items in your mailbox for absolutely nothing!

In light of the many recent, high value products that have been offered by various companies, I have been inspired to base the next Widow's Challenge on gathering and giving away freebies. My goal is to sign up for as many freebies as I can in the next 30 days (and of course share those offers with you). Then, I will give away what I was able to freely gather!

I think this will be a fun challenge, as it is quite exciting to get free items in the mail on a regular basis! Plus, it's even better to give them away to people who could really use the gifts. From Joplin to Tuscaloosa, there are a lot of Americans who are rebuilding their lives right now, and though some free samples and offers might not seem like much to us, it could be a very appreciated gift to someone who has lost so much.  

Will you join me in the challenge? If you're not already, be prepared to get hooked on freebies. Look for the "Hooray for FREEBIES" icon below on posts that have current free offers, and let's start signing up for those freebies!

A tip before you start: I would recommend setting up a free e-mail account with either yahoo, hotmail, gmail, etc... and using that e-mail on sign up forms. This will help keep your current inbox less cluttered, which is always nice for sanity's sake.

New to the Widow's Challenge? Check out what it's all about!

5 Minute Give Challenge: Send a Box of Needed Items for Tornado Relief!

I am so happy to have found this... Kristin @ Couponing to Disney along with her local church, First Baptist of Moody, has organized a donation center for receiving tornado relief boxes.  I personally have an overflowing closet of stock pile items that have accumulated over the past few months of couponing and this is a perfect opportunity to donate those items! The last time I was able to donate my free or nearly free stockpile items, I managed to put together four Christmas bags for international families at my husband's seminary.

This is the heart of my blog and my passion; living frugally so that I can easily bless others! I wouldn't have the means to donate so much if I had not used coupons as well as took advantage of the drugstore game. So far, Kristin and her church have received over 500 boxes! Praise the Lord for the impact that generous living can have on our fellow brothers and sisters in need.  Will you join me in the effort to donate our surplus stock pile items to tornado relief?

Don't have a stockpile yet? Take advantage of the free toothbrushes at Walgreens this week and send out a toothbrush package, something that I'm sure would be very appreciated by those affected. There's also cheap deodorant and first aid kits, as well as free kid's toothbrushes and Ibuprofen at Target this week!

Here's what Kristin says:

April 27th my town was hit by a tornado. We suffered loss of homes, businesses, vehicles, etc. Praise the Lord we did not suffer many losses of life. Unfortunately, it wasn’t over. Later in the day, more tornadoes touched the ground in Alabama killing at least 250 people. They are reporting that the tornadoes were EF3, EF4 and EF5s (which is the worst kind).

Southerners are in dire need of some of the most basic necessities and I am working with my local church to start an online donation drive to help the victims of these storms. If you have any items that you would love to mail to us, we will gladly take them. Here are a few things that we are in need of:

Updated list (as of 5/16/2011):
Baby supplies (including diapers, wipes, A&D Ointment, baby food and juices)
Blankets
Bungee Cords
Can openers
Charcoal grills (small)
Construction materials
Convenience food (snack type)
Deodorant
Diabetic Monitors with Strips
First aid kits
Gloves
Hand tools
Non-perishable food items
Over the counter medications (mainly tylenol)
Pet supplies
Ropes
Shampoo and Conditioner
Soap Powders and Cleaning Supplies
Socks and underwear *NEW*
Sunscreen and Bug Spray
Tarps
Trash bags
Water
Yard tools (rake/shovel)

You can mail your donations to my church. We will ensure they get into the right hands. You have my personal guarantee that all donations will be distributed:

Disaster Relief
c/o First Baptist Church of Moody
902 Church Street
Moody, AL 35004

If you would like to send a monetary donation, please memo your check as Disaster Relief.

Also, you can ship items directly to the church via Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc. A few people have ordered cases of diapers, wipes and even food. Anything that you want to send would be appreciated!

Spring 2011 Widow's Challenge: No New Clothes!

How much during a particular season does your family spend on clothing? I've decided to do a season-long Widow's Challenge for the Spring, with the personal challenge to not buy any clothes for myself, husband, or baby girl! Do you think I can do it? As long as I can avoid the adorable baby clothes at Carter's or the deals at Old Navy, I may just be victorious, and save a lot of money.

I've worked in retail and know the temptation to buy new, beautiful clothes each season. Maybe not according to our culture's standards, but for what my family needs, we have plenty of clothes to last us through the Spring. I often find myself buying new clothes for the fun of it, when we don't really need them. I encourage you to join me in this challenge, be it for the entire Spring, or for a shorter time period.

I'm sure there are many outlets you could use your saved money on, whether for personal needs or through outreach. I'm a big proponent of Gospel for Asia, a ministry that sends 100% of donations to the mission field and is seeing incredible results in its outreach to the "Untouchables" of India and Southeast Asia. Some possible and theme-appropriate areas you can give this season through Gospel for Asia are: a clothing packet for a national missionary who faces harsh weather in the Himalayas, or a sewing machine (and with it an opportunity for income) to a Dalit family, or a $5 blanket to a family who has none.

The possibilities are endless in our giving! Above all, I encourage you to cleanse your heart of the seductive materialism that lies at the heart of our western world, and remember our brothers and sisters in Christ who daily go without.

New to the Widow's Challenge? Check out what it's all about!

February 2011 Widow's Challenge: Play the Drugstore Game!

It has taken me a few days to get this month's challenge up, but I'm quite excited to share it with you! For February, I challenge you (as well as myself) to play the drugstore game each week! If you haven't played before, start simple and get some practice in this month! Don't be afraid to start! I promise you will start seeing some amazing savings immediately (see pictures above for items I got for free or nearly free)!

Choose one drugstore to begin (CVS, Walgreens, or Rite Aid). I still usually only make it out to one, which Rite Aid is my favorite drugstore of choice. Learn how to play at your drugstore chain of choice and check out the weekly deals at such sites as Money Saving Mom, Maven of Savin', For the Mommas, or Passionate Penny Pincher! 

One great example at Rite Aid this week (thru Saturday, 2/5) is Edy's or Dreyer's Ice Cream/Fruit Bars for $.16 each after their UP Rewards.
     Buy: (6) 1.5 quarts of Dreyer’s or Edy’s Ice Cream or (6) Dreyer's/Edy's Fruit Bars @ $2.99 each
     Spend: $17.94 plus tax out of pocket
     Get: (6) $2 UP Rewards & (1) $5 UP reward
     = $0.16 each after UPRs, and you'll have $17 to spend on the Drugstore Game next week!

One reason I am a huge advocate of playing the Drugstore Game is that it has allowed me to give more generously than I would normally be able to on our limited financial means. Anyone, no matter financial status, can start playing the game for a few dollars out of pocket. When played consistently, I'm certain you will be stunned at the amount of items that you can get for free or more than free (and how much you can give away to your loved ones or neighbors in need)!

New to the "Widow's Challenge"? Check out what the Widow's Challenge is all about. 

January 2011 Widow's Challenge: What I Saved with No Online Shopping!

January was really hard for us financially with my hubby out of the country for a three-week Biblical Geography course in Israel (and therefore not getting a pay check), an unexpected trip to New York for a family funeral, a surprise E.R. visit, and a cross country drive for my hubby which ended with our car breaking down (we still have to figure out what is wrong with it). I was really glad that today is the beginning of February and hopefully a brighter month for us.

For my January 2011 Widow's Challenge, I decided to see what I could save by giving up online shopping that I would normally buy (this means really good deals since I usually shop frugally anyhow)! Here is just a few deals that I passed up last month:

*Kodak 5x7 Photo Books for $1.99 (probably would have bought at least two)= $3.98
*$25 Restaurant.com Gift Card for $3.00
*24 Photo Cards @ SeeHere for $2.49 Shipped
*Photo Calendars @ VistaPrint thru Eversave for $2.84
*A $20 Amazon Gift Card for $10.00

Calculating these deals alone, I saved $22.31! Every penny certainly counts, especially during the harder times, and it's nice to see what we saved rather than spent after a month of extra frugality and restraint! What did you save? Feel free to try this challenge out this month if you didn't try it last month.

New to the "Widow's Challenge"? Check out what the Widow's Challenge is all about. 

January 2011 Widow's Challenge: Giving Up Online Shopping.

At the start of the new year, my hubby and I find ourselves pinching our pennies even more than usual. My hubby has had an excellent opportunity to travel to Israel for a three-week Biblical geography course through Jerusalem University College! This extraordinary experience will greatly benefit his ultimate vocational goals of teaching Hebrew and the Old Testament. We have been planning financially for this trip for many months and God has prepared the way for my hubby to go. However, combined with our recent move to Colorado from Massachusetts, the cost that comes along with Christmas, and an upcoming couple months of basically no income as my hubby has put his part time position on hold while overseas, we are having to be very tight on our financial spending. But, this does not mean we cannot be generous still. Though we do not have much to offer right now, we are still very wealthy compared to most of the world's populations and we can still find ways to give. We are very grateful to be spending the next several months with my hubby's family, and I'm often reminded of how great a blessing it is to have food, warm clothing and shelter during the cold winter season (it has been in the single digits here in Colorado lately)!

One practical way for me to cut back in my spending is giving up online shopping for the month. I definitely prefer and enjoy online shopping, often finding some really good bargains on clothing, photo gifts, diapers, coffee, and other items by using coupon codes, Shop at Home, and refer-a-friend credits. However, I don't often need the items I'm purchasing and this is one area in our finances that could be cut out during harder times. So to start off 2011, I wanted to challenge myself to cut back on the extra shopping I do online, even if something is a great deal! My family has more than enough right now in regards to food, clothing, and other basic necessities, and to go a month without spending the extra money online would truly help out our budget and allow us margin to give elsewhere.

Will you join me in this challenge? How much money would you save this month if you cut out the online shopping you do on non-essentials? How would you give that money?

Our baby girl is turning 1 this month, and to celebrate her birthday, my hubby and I decided to sponsor a Bridge of Hope child in her name. We are choosing a little girl who also shares our daughter's birthday. This Gospel for Asia ministry reaches out to Dalit children (Untouchables), providing for their basic needs, an education, and the opportunity to hear the Gospel and grow in their faith. As these children relay the Good News to their families, whole communities are coming to Christ. The unloved are realizing how very loved they are by God, and when you are considered "untouchable," the Gospel of Jesus Christ offers amazing hope and value to your life. I encourage you to consider sponsoring a Bridge of Hope child for $28/month (100% of your gift goes to your Bridge of Hope child). You have the opportunity to write to your child as well. This is a commitment that will change lives for the glory of God.

New to the "Widow's Challenge"? Check out what the Widow's Challenge is all about.

December 2010 Widow's Challenge: A Season of Giving.

For the month of December, I focused on giving to a family, friend, or community group in need during the Christmas season. For me, the international families at my husband's seminary came to mind. These families often do not have the means for extra gifts, as they have sacrificed much financially to attend school in the States.

Since we were moving mid-month, I thought this would be the perfect time to see how far I could make my stockpile of free or nearly free items stretch to bless these families. Here's what I managed to give:

My stockpile included:

• several bottles of laundry detergent
• food items like cereal, soups, cake mix, Hamburger Helper, and rice mixes
• hygiene items like deodorant, floss, toothbrushes, mouth rinse and shampoo
• medicines
• cleaning supplies
• Christmas items like ornaments, books, and holiday scented Renuzits

Above are the finished gift bags filled with my stockpile items. 

My husband and I are on a limited budget right now as well, and we couldn't have given away these items if I had not gotten them with coupons!  Stretching my dollar to bless another family is not only rewarding, but to me, worth the time and effort it requires to shop for free.

On that note, I'm quite excited to see what the new year will bring as I strive to live generously for the glory of God! May you have a blessed 2011, as you bless others!

New to the "Widow's Challenge"? Check out what the Widow's Challenge is all about.

December 2010 Widow's Challenge: A Generous Christmas for Your Loved Ones/Neighbors in Need.

 

My December Widow's Challenge for you is a bit open ended and individualized; it's about giving to loved ones and/or local community members in need this holiday season. Most of us know of a family member or neighbor who could use some extra help, especially as Christmas draws near. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to select a person, family, or community group that you can richly bless this holiday season. For example, my hubby attends a seminary where there are many international families who have often made great financial sacrifices to be able to attend this school. Many of these families do not have the means to buy gifts, as they are pinching their pennies already to pay for tuition, rent, and groceries. I've chosen this group to specifically give to for my challenge. I'm going to see how much I can give out of my own stockpile of toiletries and groceries.

Another great subgroup of people would be the elderly in your family and community; many people in nursing homes do not have frequent family visits and can feel quite alone at Christmas. Home Instead, a senior care organization, puts on a program called, "Be a Santa to a Senior." Martha Cashins wrote to me regarding the program: 

Walgreens will put up a tree and advertise the program. We will receive names from Nursing Homes, Senior Housing, Senior Centers of seniors who need a gift for Christmas. Most of these seniors do not have family of someone visiting them on a regular basis. We put the first name only and the gift requested on the trees. People in the community will take the ornament and purchase the gift and return both to the store. We will have a wrapping party in each community and then give the gifts to the Nursing Home, senior housing or senior center for disbursement.
 
It is a county-wide program that Home Instead Senior Care has been doing for the past 5+ years. It is very much appreciated by the seniors and also a reminder to the community about how many people are alone on the holidays.

I encourage you to be creative in how you provide gifts for your loved ones/neighbors... Use your stockpile of items to create wonderful holiday gift baskets, bake special goodies, make ornaments from materials around your home, prepare holiday food boxes out of freebies from your couponing, donate your children's toys that are in like new condition, sew some hats and scarves ... the possibilities are endless! As Christmas approaches, plan a delivery date and time for your Christmas gifts. May God use you as an unexpected blessing in a family's life during this season of giving.

The following verses are from the Old Testament, regarding Israel, but how much more does it apply to us current day believers as true Israelites in the faith. The exhortation is the same; let us give generously to our needy brothers and sisters.

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. Deuteronomy 15:7-11

New to the "Widow's Challenge"? Check out what the Widow's Challenge is all about.

The Fruit of My November Widow's Challenge: 27 Boxes of Hamburger Helper and More!

For the past month, I have been setting aside $3/week of my grocery budget to buy food for a local food pantry.  I wanted to challenge myself to see how far I could make that $3 stretch using coupons and sales.  Here is the fruit of my couponing labor:

27 boxes of Hamburger Helper

15 cans of Progresso soup

10 boxes of Betty Crocker potatoes

7 cans of Campbell's soup

4 cans of Libby's fruit

3 boxes of Cheerios (Multi Grain/Banana Nut/Original)

3 jars of Vlasic relish

3 cartons of Progresso broth

2 cans of College Inn broth

2 jars of Mott's Applesauce

2 Betty Crocker cake mixes

2 Betty Crocker frostings

2 boxes of Jell-O

1 Pillsbury brownie mix

1 box of  Stove Top dressing

I must say, this is more food than I initially thought I could get for $12 total! However, since I started this challenge, I was able to meet with Kathy Spencer from How to Shop for Free. She uses the method of stockpiling to grocery shop for her family of six (plus a cat and a dog) for $4/week! She has definitely inspired me to stretch my dollar even farther, which is very possible with the right amount of coupons (and a bit bigger pantry)! I think that's a November 2011 challenge in the making.

Also, Laurie at Passionate Penny Pincher has a tremendous heart for giving and has been challenging her readers to give whatever they can this Thanksgiving season. I love that half of her blog's proceeds are given to the Tatum family, missionaries to Costa Rica.

New to the "Widow's Challenge"? Check out what the Widow's Challenge is all about.