The Generous Generation

Hi Scott

I just wanted to share with you a lovely story. I run a charity called Mums Supporting Families in Need. We provide material aid to vulnerable families in Victoria. Yesterday we had a young girl (grade 6) to come in and volunteer hours with her school. She handed me an envelope with a note that said.

"At home I have three jars: splurge, smile and give. Here is $25 from my giving jar for you to put towards something you are needing."

I love that your concept teaches even our young generation of giving.

Jodie

Hi Jodie,

Last week I hung out with a grade three primary school class in Hervey Bay.

As part of my primary school program, ‘The Jam Jar Project’, the kids sold some of their unwanted toys and books in a school ‘Toy Frenzy’, and ended up raising $31 in their class ‘give’ jam jar.

Then the kids debated the best place to give the money: the local animal shelter? The children’s hospital?

They ended up making a group decision to give it to a local homeless shelter.

On their final graduation celebration class, a representative from the shelter came in and was officially presented with the ‘give jar’ money from the kids.

She brought with her a bowl, cereal, and fresh fruit, and explained to the kids that because of their hard work and generosity, they would be able to feed 25 people in their local community breakfast the next morning.

I sat at the back of the class and saw the absolute pride in the kids eyes.It was one of my proudest moments too.

Thanks for sharing.

Scott

The Giving Game

Hi Scott,

My daughter would like to donate the contents of her money box to a charity. I really want to take her to one in person, rather than doing it online, so she can be a part of the process. But I am finding it increasingly challenging to find information on where we can do this ‒ none of them seem to want to interact in person. Any ideas?

Jill

Hi Jill,

I think there are more meaningful ways to teach giving than handing over cash.

Instead, my experience is that food is the perfect way to teach your kids about giving.

Reason being, every kid knows what it’s like to be hungry: you can’t concentrate, and you’re irritable until you eat.

So, you can explain that on a typical day roughly three kids in her class will arrive at school hungry or without having eaten breakfast, according to Foodbank. (This explains why approximately 1,750 schools across the country have Breakfast Clubs, to ensure kids are getting their most important meal of the day. They’re in poor areas. They’re in wealthy areas. They’re in my home town.)You can also explain that just because you can’t see their tummies rumbling doesn’t mean they’re not hungry.Not only is food a powerful metaphor for kids, even better, your kid has the chance to do something about it.

Last year charities across Australia had to turn away 65,000 hungry people each month because there wasn’t enough food to go around.

However, there’s no need to start feeding the masses bread and fish like a motivated messiah.

Instead, when you’re next walking around the supermarket, ask your kids, “What can we buy for hungry people?”

You can donate things like canned foods, spreads, coffee, flour, sugar and baby food. Have your kids bring along some money from their Give Jar so they can buy food with their own money, and then on the way home you can drop it off at the local Foodbank warehouse, or your local community charity that distributes food in your area (you can find their contact details from your local council).

Scott