What kind of Christmas can you buy for $125 anyway?A gift for your child that you chose and wrapped yourself. Diapers. Electricity.A freezer packed with ready-made dinners. Boots to replace the ones you've been wearing stuffed with the plastic bags to prevent water from leaking inside.The knowledge that somebody out there cares.Generosity is a very personal thing.Where we choose to give our money, and how much we donate, is a matter for our consciences - and maybe the tax department.Whatever you gave this year, wherever it went, know there's a stranger out there who wants to say thank you.
Don't believe me? Speak to people at just a few of the 150 local agencies that worked with The Gazette Christmas Fund to distribute 8,266 cheques this year.People like Sister Dianna Lieffers, who has been the pastoral assistant at St. Gabriel's church in Point St. Charles for the last 38 years.Lieffers spends a good part of December gathering ingredients for the 400 food baskets the Roman Catholic parish gives out during the holiday period."I tell volunteers. 'Pretend you are packing that basket for your best friend.' " It's also her job to choose who will get the 50 cheques St. Gabe's gets from the Christmas Fund.
Lieffers favours people living alone who suffer from mental illness, because they aren't apt to cook themselves a big meal."This way they can buy themselves little treats they can't usually afford. There are also a lot of Muslim families living in the neighbourhood.Exactly What Thank You Gifts Do You Like Getting ? They have dietary restrictions and can't eat a lot of the foods that are in the baskets," Lieffers said."Someone might need a pair of boots. After Christmas, they will come up and show me, 'Look, sister, this is what I bought with my cheque.' I'm almost in tears sometimes, they so appreciate that money."
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