Pay it Forward - Please Join!!!

[Lacy Duckwing]

We are planning on giving Christmas gifts to the mailman, the people that take our trash (the trash guys? ), and an acquaintance of ours at the grocery store.

Something my Nana did once for her trash guys, is she put out a large sign of encouragement and how thankful she was of them by where her trash was.

 

[The WinterWolf]

we give the mail lady some rice crispy treats around christmas

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Yesterday I made 11 dozen sugar cookies to freeze and today I made gingerbread cookies and peanut butter cups.
I frosted some for us to have, to get in the spirit of giving. My husband and boys were very grateful.
I still have several things to make, and then to pack up to give.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Those all look delicious!, & I especially love the gingerbread people. I fully understand where your heart is, re attempting to bring joy to others instead of focusing on your own loss. Quite a few years ago I experienced a major loss of my own. As the holiday season approached, I was in a state of grief and just wasn't feeling the "Christmas spirit" at all. I festively decorated my house as always before, but all I felt was numb.

I decided even if I wasn't going to enjoy Christmas that year, maybe i could try and bring some joy to others. So I went to a local nursing home and asked how many residents lived there, both male and female. The head nurse was very appreciative and encouraging. She told me "some of the residents never have visitors or get gifts."

I then went shopping and made a gift bag for each resident. When I returned to the nursing home on Christmas eve with over 70 gift bags, the the nurse encouraged me to deliver the gifts personally. But I was shy and hesitant, & so declined.

Im telling this story here for two reasons: 1)Making gift bags for the nursing home residents Did help distract from my grief and loss that year. In fact it's the main thing i remember from that Christmas.
2)Gifts don't only have to be given to people we know. Yes it's good to show our appreciation to the people who make our lives better and easier throughout the year. Striving to brighten the lives of strangers is a worthy endeavor too.❤

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Those all look delicious!, & I especially love the gingerbread people. I fully understand where your heart is, re attempting to bring joy to others instead of focusing on your own loss. Quite a few years ago I experienced a major loss of my own. As the holiday season approached, I was in a state of grief and just wasn't feeling the "Christmas spirit" at all. I festively decorated my house as always before, but all I felt was numb.

I decided even if I wasn't going to enjoy Christmas that year, maybe i could try and bring some joy to others. So I went to a local nursing home and asked how many residents lived there, both male and female. The head nurse was very appreciative and encouraging. She told me "some of the residents never have visitors or get gifts."

I then went shopping and made a gift bag for each resident. When I returned to the nursing home on Christmas eve with over 70 gift bags, the the nurse encouraged me to deliver the gifts personally. But I was shy and hesitant, & so declined.

Im telling this story here for two reasons: 1)Making gift bags for the nursing home residents Did help distract from my grief and loss that year. In fact it's the main thing i remember from that Christmas.
2)Gifts don't only have to be given to people we know. Yes it's good to show our appreciation to the people who make our lives better and easier throughout the year. Striving to brighten the lives of strangers is a worthy endeavor too.❤

Somehow I missed something in this thread, and never discovered it till what you are saying here. Thank you so much for starting this thread, @BirdsBeesTrees! Some of us really need to just plain go through this thread reading it.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Those all look delicious!, & I especially love the gingerbread people. I fully understand where your heart is, re attempting to bring joy to others instead of focusing on your own loss. Quite a few years ago I experienced a major loss of my own. As the holiday season approached, I was in a state of grief and just wasn't feeling the "Christmas spirit" at all. I festively decorated my house as always before, but all I felt was numb.

I decided even if I wasn't going to enjoy Christmas that year, maybe i could try and bring some joy to others. So I went to a local nursing home and asked how many residents lived there, both male and female. The head nurse was very appreciative and encouraging. She told me "some of the residents never have visitors or get gifts."

I then went shopping and made a gift bag for each resident. When I returned to the nursing home on Christmas eve with over 70 gift bags, the the nurse encouraged me to deliver the gifts personally. But I was shy and hesitant, & so declined.

Im telling this story here for two reasons: 1)Making gift bags for the nursing home residents Did help distract from my grief and loss that year. In fact it's the main thing i remember from that Christmas.
2)Gifts don't only have to be given to people we know. Yes it's good to show our appreciation to the people who make our lives better and easier throughout the year. Striving to brighten the lives of strangers is a worthy endeavor too.❤

That's amazing! Thank you for sharing, that's what can inspire others too!
In real life I would give you a big hug.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I've went to the dollar store to pick up inexpensive sweatshirts for our garbage men, gloves for our UPS driver, and thick warm socks for the FedEx driver.
I'll start by posting a few treats I'm making.
View attachment 2916122
View attachment 2916123

What is the morsel with the pink topping called?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

What is the morsel with the pink topping called?

Amaretto Fudge.

 

[topochico225]

Here in Baton Rouge we have community fridges in parking lots across the city that are completely open to whoever needs it. No signup, no vetting, anyone can get it and anyone can donate. I already regularly donate to it but I’m going to try to go more often this December!

Also, we have a sweet homeless guy that we see on a bench every time we drive by. I’m going to bring him a gift basket very soon.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

@BirdsBeesTrees what a sweet thing for you to do! So sorry about your dairy business, that must be so hard…
All those goodies look wonderful!

This year I’m making clay ornaments for the people I got my ducks from and my special poultry friends. It’s going well so far! I’m having a lot of fun.