Santa Lucia, Santa Claus and Uncle Sam
Santa Lucia
We’ve just come through a season of giving. Everyone is familiar with Santa Claus. His origins are numerous, both pagan and Christian, but are typically associated with generous giving. On December 13th, or near to it, our family celebrates Santa Lucia Day. Saint Lucy lived around 300 AD and, as told in one story, helped Christians who were hiding in the catacombs by bringing supplies to them. We commemorate this act of giving each year by having one of our daughters wear the candle crown and sharing food with the rest of the famiy. Afterward, as a family we talk about ways we can help others and then we do just that.
Though we give throughout the year, we take even more time to consider it in December because we are surrounded by more visibile requests and we’re thinking about taxes. Uncle Sam does both giving and taking, but we can influence how much he takes through charitable contributions and we can direct giving to those we most want to support. Some of the places we give cannot be deducted, but many are.
Here are some of the people (through organizations) that we’ve been able to support:
Local:
- Union Gospel Mission - food, shelter and hope
- Club 363- daily food distribution project
- Church of the Open Door - our church
- GTCYS - Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies
- C.R.O.S.S. - provides food and clothing
- Heart of the City - uniting Christians across racial and denominational divisions
- Banyan Community - developing youth and strengthening families in Minneapolis
- Minnesota Teen Challenge - treatment for drug and alcohol addiction
- Vietnam Veterans of America - accepting donated clothing and household items
- ARC - accepting donated clothing and household items
National:
- Pacific Garden Mission - food, shelter and hope in Chicago
- Billy Graham - gospel evangelism
- Luis Palau - gospel evangelism
- Prison Fellowship - prison ministry
- Focus on the Family - resources for families
- Alliance Defense Fund - Defending religious liberty
- American Center for Law & Justice - Defending religious liberty
International:
- OTAN - Support Christian nationals in Asia as ministers of the gospel
- World Vision - helping those in poverty
- Smile Train - surgery to those in need
- Doctors Without Borders - medical humanitarian organization
- Bible League - provides scriptures and training
- Voice of the Martyrs - support to those persecuted for their faith in Christ
- Kenya Children’s Fund - provides education to those in poverty
- Feed My Starving Children - just what it says
Check out the links if you’re interested. It’s clear that many charitable organizations are financially challenged.