When I was a child, probably about 10 years old or so, something happened at Christmas that I have never forgotten. My folks were charter members of a church and back in those day, everyone pitched in and did what needed doing so one Sunday, when my dad was walking by the church office and the phone was ringing, he answered it. It was someone who knew of an elderly couple who had no food .... and certainly no food for Christmas. They were trying to find someone, anyone, who could help them and had called our church to see if the church could help. Rather than pass on the problem, my dad talked to my mom and after church, we went grocery shopping. He had gotten the address of the elderly folks and we went to their house which was in a run-down part of town. I can still remember walking up the steps to their door with my folks carrying the grocery bags. I can still remember the look on the faces of the elderly couple as out of "nowhere" appeared the answer to their prayers ... food. Mom and dad had gotten them a small turkey and all the fixins and included some 'staple' items to tide them over for a while.
My point, I guess, is that I have given money to many charities and growing up, I was expected to allocate part of my allowance to church and charities, but nothing made such an impact as actually DOING something hands-on. It's been a long, long, long time since I was 10, but I still remember what my folks did (despite their own somewhat meager circumstances) like it was yesterday and my activities today are still being influenced by the tremendous lesson they taught by showing me and my brothers the true meaning of Christmas with their generosity, compassion, and love for their fellow man. By the way, I commend your efforts with your kids, whatever you end up doing ...... you're walking the walk', not just 'talking the talk'.