Design Crafters

Some Christmas cards are sent out with news of family accomplishments, endeavors, or trips made over the past year.  Some Christmas cards go out bearing a simple holiday greeting to the recipient.  But other Christmas cards are put in the mail with the ultimate goal of making others’ lives better and the world a nicer place.

For example, the news recently told us of a high school girl who sent out Christmas cards last year with requests for donations to her favorite charity, Habitat for Humanity.  A nationwide organization, Habitat for Humanity builds homes for low-income families, who participate in the building of their own homes as part of their contribution.  The student was able to raise the $60,000 needed to build a family’s new house from her Christmas card appeal, and is currently helping to build the house in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area.  Habitat officials say bringing privileged volunteers into struggling neighborhoods is part of the organization’s mission.   Charlotte is seventh in the nation with 60 to 70 Habitat houses built per year.

Habitat for Humanity uses volunteerism and fundraising to build homes for needy families and improve blighted neighborhoods. Homeowners benefit from “sweat equity” and get help with financing those houses.  Last Christmas, did that family ever dream that something so simple as a Christmas card would result in their having their very own brand-new house to enjoy the coming holiday in?  What a wonderful thing.