Allyson Rice and World Vision Gifts

For all our Daytime Dial readers, Allyson Rice (ex-Conner Jamison Walsh, As the World Turns) asked me to post this letter on the website, and I didn't hesitate, because it promotes a wonderful organization for the holidays. I hope you will read it and be moved to participate.

Hello wonderful friends near and far:
I wanted to share an idea that we are doing this year at the holidays. We've done this before, but are doing it on a larger scale this year. There are so many people in desperate need right now, and even though we, like a great many people, are having trouble meeting bills, and keeping our business running, we still have more than most people on the planet. If you're getting this email, you probably do too.

There's a catalog I got in the mail called World Vision Gifts (www.worldvisiongifts.org), and they have a large range of price options -- lots of inexpensive options: $25 to give 2 chickens, $17 provides fast-growing and drought-resistant seeds, $35 for a share of a sheep, $30 for 5 ducks, $25 provides care for an orphan or AIDS-affected child. And on up to $2000 for 28 farm animals if you have the resources to do some thing bigger! All are gifts that will help them build a better life; the gift grows and continues to enrich the lives of their family members and community. A "teaching them how to fish" kind of gift...

Dashiell (my 14-year old) really likes the ones that "multiply" due to corporate matched gifts (he's also asked for this gift from relatives -- totally his idea when he saw the catalog lying around...) : $25 provides $350 of school supplies, $35 provides $490 worth of clothing, $25 provides $350 of necessities for US children (diapers, clothing, blankets, toys, etc), $50 provides $250 worth of emergency food and aid in Africa, $60 provides 10 fruit trees, etc etc. Lots more to choose from, but these are some of the lower $ options. You also might consider doing one of the ones that specifically helps young girls and women around the world: $35 to send a girl to school, $35 to assist with care for sexually exploited girls rescued from sex slave trade, $100 loan for an impoverished women.

Of course, there are so many good causes out there to support, and maybe you have your favorites already. But it's just something to think about this season with all this talk of CHANGE going on. Make it a bigger action than just you alone. Get your family and friends involved. We could all give up one more sweater or small electronic to share some hope with someone in need.

And you can always go to the post office locally and look through letters to Santa that are asking for basic needs like clothes and food for their family. I've done that since living in NY where the central post office in Manhattan gathered all the letters together for people to look through and help locally. There are people probably right down your street that need help, and a little support. Go out this holiday season and really spread the SPIRIT of the season, no matter what holiday you might celebrate. Please feel free to forward this to as many people as you can think of to encourage a really special holiday this year. And as you type the email addresses of your friends and family members, count them, your support system, among your many blessings!

I wish you all a beautiful holiday season, filled with joy, gratitude for all you have, and a spirit of reaching out knowing you can make a difference in someone's life.

Many blessings,
Allyson