Ask for Gifts for Others at Your Party

Every year, I have a Christmas open house and invite everyone on my Christmas card list. I usually end up having 50-70 guests show up. It is a blast. Only thing is, I always ended up with several bottles of wine or liquor (we do not drink) and a ton of boxes of candy which I really didn't need. This last year I had a brainstorm. On the invitation, I requested that instead of bringing a hostess gift, the guests bring an item suitable for a young child to be donated to charity. It was a huge success! And the charity organization I donated it to was thrilled.

As an added note, my great-niece did the same thing for her birthday party. She donated all of her presents to the poor.

This very small gesture will bring great joy to those who receive your donated items and will give you and your family a sense of the real meaning of giving.

By Danielle from WISCONSIN