The Tale of Two Catalogs

In the mail recently I received two holiday gift giving catalogs. One is a catalog (which shall remain nameless) that promises products that are creative and perfect for the hard-to-shop for. The second catalog that showed up on the same day is the new Gifts of Compassion Catalog from Compassion that promises meeting real needs for Compassion-assisted children and their families.

For about $20.00 (not including shipping) I can purchase:

Two Beer Glasses

An Italian Glass Bottle
A Ceramic Tasting Plate
A Glass Zipper Bag
One Buddha Belly Plate

or for $20.00 (and no shipping costs) I can purchase Baking Supplies that will help older children learn vocational skills while making pastries and baked goods to generate income once they leave school.

For about $30.00 (not including shipping) I can purchase:

Sushi Slippers
Zenguine Cups
The Wine Tasting Board Game
One Soup and Sandwich Ceramic Tray
Adult Sock Monkey Slippers
Cardboard Deer Head
Ninja Umbrella
Retro Tampon Case

or for $30.00 (and no shipping costs) I can purchase Education Supplies for primary school aged children. This gift can help provide children with school fees, uniforms, books and other resources they need to get an education.

For about $40.00 (not including shipping) I can purchase:

An Eye Clock
Portable Balloon Speaker
Inspirational Paperweights

or for $40.00 (and no shipping costs) I can purchase Kits for New Moms. This gift can help provide a new mother with the resources she needs to raise a healthy baby, including health check-ups before and after birth, vaccinations for her newborn, and education to prevent the transmission of HIV.

For $500.00 (not including shipping) I can purchase:

Two Gnome-Be-Gones Metal Statues
Golf Club Table Lamp
A Sports Rocker

or for $500.00 (and no shipping costs) I can purchase a Computer. Millions of young people in developing countries can't plug into the education, employment, cultural and social opportunities that computer and Internet access provide. This gift can help connect young people with the education, skills training and computer facilities they need to succeed in the modern world.

If you find yourself struggling to find one of a kind gifts for the hard-to-shop for I would bet that this might just be an indication that they have everything in their lives that they need (and maybe even an excess of things they don't need). Certainly a $30.00 Tampon Holder, a $40.00 Inspirational Paperweight or a $500 Golf Club Table Lamp won't be anything more than another "thing" to clutter their homes and fill their closets with.

Maybe this year we all need to avoid the parking-lots, skip the long lines and make the most of our holiday dollars with gifts that will help the poorest communities in the world.

Meet real needs and bring real joy with a Gift of Compassion:

http://gifts.compassion.com/?referer=catalog