Each year, our local Department of Human Services (DHS) hosts a Christmas party for kids in foster care. At the party, kids receive gifts from their wish list. Those gifts are provided by volunteers who offer to sponsor a child specifically for this event.
We first learned about the need last year and decided to sponsor a child at the spur of the moment. I was feeling a little strapped financially, because we hadn’t known far enough in advance to budget for this need, but we managed to get a few clothing items and a nice toy from the child’s wish list.
Not being able to fully bless this child like we would have preferred got me to thinking, and I suggested we begin to save our spare change for Christmas 2016. I found a large pickle jar and put it on my dresser in my bedroom. Each time I or my husband or any of the children had change, we placed it in the jar. All year, we added to the jar with joy, knowing how it would be spent.
We were all pleased to have the jar more than half-way full by the middle of November, but imagine our surprise when we counted up over $200 worth of change!
This year, we were matched with a 2-year-old little girl in foster care. Our girls were thrilled! They rolled the change, cashed it in, and went shopping. They also took care of all of the wrapping. They were able to buy every request on her wish list and then some. 
We’ve already started collecting for Christmas 2017!
What does your family do to bless others at Christmas? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below.
This post is shared at Hip Homeschool Moms Blog Hop. Check it out for more inspiration.