Laurel House's 5 Ideas for Simple, Unique and Meaningful Holiday Gifts

Every holiday season, we receive an abundance of toys and gifts for the women and children in Laurel House's shelter.

But we know the recession continues to be very tough on everyone, and we know (because you've told us!) that you want your gifts to family and friends to matter this year, to make a difference.

So do we.

This year, we've put aside the toys and material things to give you 5 simple, unique, meaningful, and charitable ways that you can help families at Laurel House during the holiday season and well into 2010.

Gift Idea #1 : Sponsor a Day in the Children's Program

The shelter is usually filled with children, and we also have children living in our transitional housing apartments. We have calculated that our Children's Program costs approximately $180 a day for supplies, salaries for children's advocates, snacks, etc.

If you need a special gift for the person who has everything ... sponsor a day in the Children's Program in their name. Just send us a check or give us a call at 610-277-1860, ext. 102 and let us know the date you want to fund.

(If you are unable to fund an entire day, you can sponsor half a day with $90, or a quarter of a day with $45. )

Gift Idea #2: Give a Grocery Cart of Food

When you are at the supermarket buying everything you need for the perfect holiday dinner, put a grocery store gift card in your cart. You just helped a woman in our transitional housing program buy fresh produce for her family!

Gift Idea #3: Give a Gas Gift Card

When you fill up your tank, buy a gas gift card for the same amount. You just helped a woman get to a class, drop her kids off at day care, or go to a job interview.

Gift Idea #4: Give the Gift of a Good Night's Sleep

Want a fun way to get kids involved in the spirit of giving? Host a sleepover with several of your child's friends and ask each person bring either a new pillow or a new twin sized blanket to donate to the shelter. (We can provide the stuffed animals and teddy bears to the kids in our shelter ... we've got plenty to go around!)

Will you need a unique hostess gift or a thank-you for someone whose home you stayed at over the holidays? Make a donation to Laurel House's shelter in their honor. (We can even provide a custom card for you to present to your recipient.) You just helped a woman and her kids have a safe good night's sleep during their first night at the Laurel House shelter.

Gift Idea #5: Give the Gift of Clean

As you are packing up fragile holiday decorations, put aside a few unused rolls of paper towels. With 27 people in the shelter, cleaning is a must! There is a great need for paper towels and cleaning products all year round.

We hope these ideas inspired you to think a little differently about your holiday giving this year and ways to help Laurel House all year round!

Ready to make your holiday gift? Click here and follow the links in the yellow box.