Gift Giving – a New Perspective

Giving gifts is a time honored tradition in almost every culture.  We celebrate milestones like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduation, bar/bat mitzvahs, Quincineras, engagements, new babies and more with gifts.  Winter holidays such as Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas typically are ALL about the gifts!  And Hallmark has worked hard to set aside specific days to honor our admins, grandparents, friends, mothers, fathers, Valentines, bosses, sweethearts and more, all in an effort  to get us into the gift (and card!) giving mood.  I hope that you will keep the Heart of Hope bracelets on your list as a favorite “go to” gift for any of these occasions!

As I get older, I realize how materially blessed my family, friends and I are.  We really don’t “need” anything, and I often joke that 'need' is a very relative concept!  As a result of illness or some family issue, there will be times when we really need to give the gift of time to someone we love.  Time?!  Absolutely!  You may have someone in your life who is battling with a potentially life threatening illness like breast cancer or has escaped an abusive relationship.  It may be you.  These events are not typical milestones to celebrate, but I personally believe we may want to reconsider the definition of “typical”, and celebrate these precious moments!!

But how do you give a gift of time and make it special?  How do you offer your services and have the intended recipient actually accept the help offered, in the spirit it was offered?  I was discussing this with some friends a while back and we all agreed that it’s tough to accept help gracefully!  Together, we came up with a lovely solution – “The Project Gift Box” - as a way to turn an offer of time and/or service into something that the recipient can intellectually and physically accept with grace. When you think about it, if someone you cared about took the time to wrap up a small gift and give it to you, you wouldn't turn it down. You just wouldn’t! 

Whatever the occasion, the Project Gift Box is a perfect gift for someone who needs help and not “stuff”!  You can go solo or better yet, get together with several friends to create a customized gift.  These are just a few suggestions of what can go into the box….you are limited only by your time and imagination. 

Step 1 – Create the Box

• Find a medium sized gift box with a lid.  Green tip:  Recycle an old gift box!
• Go all out and decorate it to your heart’s desire! Wrap the box and the lid separately.
• Find 4 - 5 different colors of paper - Medium sized Post-It squares are the perfect size!
• Colors correspond to the amount of time which can be donated for any given offer (i.e. 15 - 30 min., 30 - 60 min., 1 -2 hours, 3+ hours)
• Tape one slip of each color with the time allotment to the inside of the lid (to help you remember!)

Step 2 – Add the gifts

Think about household projects that can be shared/delegated. (see suggestions below) There are chores that really should be done by the recipient. But the list of chores to be done (and it doesn't really matter by whom!) is endless and limited only by your friend’s willingness to let friends and family help out.

Jot each project onto a colored slip of paper and add it to the decorated box.

Include the following instructions:  “When someone asks "What can I do to help you?", ask them how much time they have to "gift you" and then ask them to pull out a colored slip from your gift box.”

Potential Chores

• change the bed linens
• fold clean laundry
• assemble a grocery list (look in the cupboards and learn the specific brands you prefer)
• go grocery shopping
• put away groceries
• pull weeds
• read to a patient or a restless toddler
• help with homework
• walk the dog(s)
• clean the catbox, hamster cage, rabbit hutch, bird cage, goldfish bowl, etc.
• empty the dishwasher
• clean the toilet(s)
• mow the lawn
• take the car to the carwash
• follow you to the dealership/repair shop for auto servicing
• drop off a bank deposit
• plant flowers/veggies
• clean the pool
• run the vacuum
• rake leaves
• clean gutters
• carpool kids to school, soccer, dance lessons, etc.
• collect the trash/recycling and turn it in
• pick up a prescription, dry cleaning
• return library books, video rentals
• shovel snow
• hose off window screens 

What would you add to the box?