One thing that always impresses me about Americans is their generosity toward those in need.

Recently we saw this type of outpouring toward Hurricane Katrina victims in our country and Tsunami victims in Indonesia.

In spite of us feeling we are taxed to death, many Americans still are very willing to give to others in need, for no other reason than it is the right thing to do.

Americans give with an open heart and open wallet--all on their own--no government involvement necessary. They give with no hope of gain or compensation, no arm twisting needed. It is great to see.

Now there is another need, the Chinese earthquake victims half way around the globe.

The Zhong family of Brookfield is holding a fundraiser concert on Saturday, May 31st, from 10 AM to 1 PM, to raise money for those suffering Chinese people. 

The concert will be held at the Brookfield City Plaza during Farmer's Market hours. So come for the market and the concert, and make a donation to this cause.

A Silent Auction follows the concert and a raffle for performers. 

This concert is unique in that it affords local musicians of all ages an opportunity to perform. If you wish to participate in the performance, contact Shan Lu at btinternational@sbcglobal.net or call 262-786-8188. 

Donations may be made by cash or check. Please make check out to the Red Cross or World Vision and note China Earthquake Relief Fund on the check. World Vision is a Christian organization if you wish your aid to be faith based.

I really admire private citizens who do something on their own to make a difference in the world. Shan, the concert organizer immigrated to the United States from China and now is a U.S. Citizen.

Hopefully this concert will be a big success!

Sorry for the poor quality of the info sheet. I could not get it to post in its original form. Finally had to resort to taking a picture! 

Links:

Last weekend an area Boy Scout leader I know stopped on my street with some of his troop. They were passing out food drive plastic bags. I was outside putting my homemade "Academics, not Athletics" sign on my front lawn, when he stopped to chat. I told him I would plug his food drive on the blog after Tuesday. So, here it is.

BOY SCOUT FEED THE HUNGRY FOOD DRIVE: 

Fill the bag from the Sunday newspaper or the one distributed by the Scouts with NON-PERISHABLE FOOD. It is a shame they need to mention this, but make sure the items are not expired or broken. Oooh. Canned goods, unopened package goods (not bread type items), hygiene and paper products, like toilet paper would be welcome too. NO FRESH FOODS.

Place the bag outside your front door by 9am on Saturday. I would not do this the night before if you have packaged items like noodles or hamburger helper because animals could get into it.

The Scouts should pick it up on Saturday. If it does not get picked up, then take it to a Pick 'n Save and place it in that specially marked barrel in the store.

You may have some items at home that you don't care for but could be useful to someone else. I frequently purchase things in multiples and then am disappointed when a family member does not care for that particular brand. Usually I take those new non food items to a thrift shop like ECFA's Almost Anything store, but this time I will put them in the Scout bag. 

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A number of years ago, my family decided to quit giving Christmas presents to each other. As my witty husband said, if I want a personal gift, I will buy it personally.

Seriously though, we decided that we already have so much, what else could we possibly need? It seemed foolish to rack our brains trying to come up with gift lists, so we decided we would no longer exchange Christmas gifts. The time and aggravation saved from eliminating all those frustrating shopping trips is priceless. (You could say that is the best gift ever--not needing to shop!) The money saved can be put to better use: donations to your local church, favorite charities, wounded Vets, or supporting missionaries.

We were not total Scrooges though. Since our son was young at the time, we decided he would be the only one to receive and give gifts (he paid for them himself). Now that he is older, he still gives and receives a few gifts, but at least he does his own shopping!

When I still have to go to the mall or stores this time of year, some of the conversations between shoppers seem to be all the more glaring since I am not in the frenzy too. I want to suggest, No, Aunt Peggy really won't like "The Clapper", or Don't get that set of scented candles just so Margie has something to open. 

The Christmas oriented ads of I'm giving such 'n such salon gift certificates, I hope I get some too seem to go against the whole spirit of giving. 

Another benefit of not doing the gift thing is that you'll never have to say, You shouldn't have (because it is the ugliest thing ever) and you don't have all that stuff to find places for after Christmas has passed.

Evidentially, we are not the only family thinking along these lines. In Martha Stewart's December issue (page 184) she had some "hassle-free" holiday suggestions. Here are her tips on gifts:

Before Thanksgiving or soon thereafter, send an e-mail to your family members: "Buying gifts for everyone has gotten overwhelming. Does anyone else feel that way?" Then suggest alternatives--pulling one name each out of a hat, filling stockings for everyone with little things, or instituting a spending cap. You might also think outside the holiday box. What about forgoing gifts altogether and putting the money toward a family trip next summer of a big dinner at a great restaurant?

These are still pretty much self serving, but at least if gives some ideas of how to broach the subject. Maybe the family could pick a charity or project and all donate to that cause? Or pool their finances to fly Grandma and Grandpa to see their grandchildren?

If you can't bear the thought of Christmas with no gifts to open, how about a White Elephant exchange? The gift you bring can either be the tackiest thing you have around the house or a very nice item that you just don't have a use for. (Be sure to designate ahead of time which type of White Elephant it will be.) Sometimes they call this White Elephant exchange "Nasty Santa." It is a gift game where guests pick the gifts one at a time. Each picker in turn then has the option of picking a new gift or one already opened. If your opened gift is taken, then you can pick another's open gift or select an unopened one. At the end, the first opener has the option of exchanging with anyone's gift. My homeschool group had a lot of fun doing this.

Stopping the gift frenzy was the BEST decision for our family. It has helped us put the focus on the real meaning of Christmas. I can only encourage you to think about it and maybe discuss this idea when you gather with your family this Christmas. It could make your Christmas 2009 the merriest ever!

Want a Red Kettle? Try the Pick 'n Save!  (See schedule below)

                                                                  
I used to shop at the Elm Grove Sentry store quite a bit--it was an easy place to run into to pick up a few items. Their prices and quality suited me and they had some items that the local Pick 'n Save did not.

One of the nicest things about that store was the willingness of management to support local charities and service organizations.

In the summer they frequently had some group grilling brats for a fund raiser. In the winter, the familiar Salvation Army Red Kettle bell ringer would be just inside the entryway, ready to greet you with a Merry Christmas.

A few years ago I recognized the bell ringer; it was Tom Wacker. (If that name sounds familiar, Tom is married to Mary Wacker, the Forensics coach from East High School.) After a nice chat getting caught up on old times, Tom said he had been ringing the Salvation Army bell for years. In fact, when they used to keep records of who produced the most in southeast Wisconsin, Tom was at the top of the list.

The old Elm Grove Sentry store is now history, replaced by the new Sendik's. It has all the glamor that the old Sentry lacked. But it doesn't have one very important item: the Salvation Army Red Kettle! No Tom Wacker. No bell ringer. No collection site for the needy in Wisconsin.

I asked at the service counter why there was no Salvation Army bell ringer at the store. The woman gave me a vague answer that the store was so new and there were four charities that wanted to use Sendik's, so the management opted to not support any.

I have to admit, that answer made me bristle. That is usually the answer given when a business has no intention of doing anything.

Explaining that this location was a prime site for the charity and that the Red Kettle was an perennial fixture in Elm Grove, I let her know I was disappointed in Sendik's for having such a policy. She quickly said they might allow it next year. I said I would be watching.

Don't despair though, Tom Wacker is still ringing the bell. Starting today, he will be at the Pick 'n Save on Bluemound, just west of Calhoun Road. (See schedule below.)  Tom is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit, so stop by and throw something in the pot!

If Sendik's elimination of the Salvation Army Red Kettle is an important issue to you, please contact the Sendik's store in Elm Grove at 13425 W. Watertown Plank Road, 252-784-9525.  The best way to get a store to change their policy on things like this is to let them know you are disappointed in their position. Disappointment for me usually translates into not shopping there as much. Don't forget to thank the Pick 'n Save for still allowing the Salvation Army to use their locations as a collection site.

TOM WACKER'S BLUEMOUND Pick 'n Save SCHEDULE

TODAY, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 3-6pm

Thursday, Dec. 13, 3-6 pm

Thursday, Dec. 20, 3-6 pm

Saturday, Dec. 22, noon - 6pm