My basement is already filling with toys and gifts for the SisterHood families.

This is the TWENTY THIRD year of the SisterHood Holiday Gift Drive and I realize that it now has a momentum of it’s own.

23 years of making a huge difference in the lives of parents, children, and teens in Burlington township. Typically, 450 kids and teens are on the list and we’ve served anywhere from 250 to all 450 during these years. I don’t have to tell you that impact. Suffice it to say that the stories I’ve heard have shown me an incredible ROI (return on investment) from every hour and each dollar. So much good has been done over the years.

This year brings new elves and maintains foundational values. Here’s the quick update followed by practical ways you may contribute.

Designing the first Holiday Gift Drive, my husband and I talked a lot about how we were gonna do this. As my daughter grew up, she chimed in with her child and then teen perspective. So did many of the volunteers at SisterHood (because I asked) and elves at Soul Sanctuary. It’s why our foundational values continue to guide this drive.

It’s hard to be a parent in lower income bracket. That’s just a fact of life in the SisterHood community.

You have to meet the basic needs of housing, food, medical care, and education for your family. Many SisterHood families work hard but can’t make ends meet. They benefit from SisterHood’s food, clothing, community support and education programs. As much as they try, they just can’t provide a Christmas morning even close to many peers at school or nearby neighborhoods.

I’ve worked with lower income communities for over 40 years and I’ve consistently heard that not having enough gets translated into not being enough.

These stories hurt my heart. Especially ’cause it isn’t true. Parents and children living in lower income brackets are as valuable as any parent and child in any income bracket. I wonder, do you agree with this foundational belief?

Respect is essential. This gift drive respects parents, children, and the SisterHood organization.

Three things to consider. First, poor kids shouldn’t get crappy gifts.

I’ve seen the donations SisterHood receives and it’s disappointing that so many used, dollar store, or cheap toys are donated. It’s better to donate a $3 new ball than McDonald’s happy meal toys. (yup, lots of those). Nothing is wasted, we put them on the Stocking Gift table for parents to choose.

We collect new, sturdy, educational, and socially current toys and gifts.

Kids recognize their worth when they receive new toys and gifts. And can hold this worth when showing or talking about their gifts with peers at school. Yes, we live in a materialistic world. We respect that and understand a kid’s value is not reflected in the gifts they receive.

However, I’ve heard countless stories of how school age kids and peers mistake a nice vs crappy gift with their value as a human. And if we do it through the mechanism of ‘name brand’ toys, so be it. It’s a tiny contribution, but it matters.

Respecting kids is a tiny ripple in a desire to change this experience.

Second, we respect parents by offering them a quality collection of toys and gifts for their children.

They choose what to do with these gifts. Are they from the parents or the jolly fat man? Their choice. We don’t have a breakfast with Santa or gifts given from SisterHood as we believe that diminishes the parents’ desire to care for their children. And the benefit to children when they see their parents take care of them. There is no judgment upon whether they are a great or mediocre parent. They deserve respect and the ability to give their kids a Christmas morning experience.

Third, we respect the SisterHood organization which cares for Burlington County families facing challenge.

The SisterHood organization is made up solely of volunteers. Founded by a small group of African American woman led by Rev Hilda Covington, they aimed to raise potential in the marginalized neighborhoods. Targeting all kinds of needs, they called themselves Sisters in the Hood. I can’t even keep up with all of the programs that serve all manner of need in the neighborhoods.

I’ve built relationships with these volunteers over the years and am constantly inspired by their big hearts, innovative minds, and committed action.

I respect and trust the SisterHood volunteers to coordinate the entire Holiday Gift Drive, beyond our contribution.

I’m not present during the distribution of family gift bags. We believe it’s best to have familiar, trustworthy people who already are in relationship with the parents and grandparents. While many know of my family and our large contributing community, the experience is a neighborhood experience. As it should be. The parents express plenty of gratitude and we give SisterHood the gift of receiving it all.

However you contribute to the wellbeing of your neighbors, I respect you.

This isn’t a hard sell to donate. Rather, I invite you to consider making a difference in any direction you choose. If it is coming to SisterHood, I’ll give you some lovely options to make Christmas magic for these families.

It’s uncomfortable feeling the darkness within the belly, leaking into the day.

The waking to news that frightens, angers, and confuses you. This world gone astray. There is a longing to seek the light to chase the darkness. As if sunshine might polish circumstances into something more palatable. Shaping the story into something you can live within.

Don’t be so quick to chase the dark away.

There is wisdom within the depths of your body’s response. The power of anger, leaking of tears, flutter in the belly. Wisdom that whispers “Something is out of whack.” Knocking you off balance, unsettling your peace.

Opening the door for the mind to spin its tales. Strengthening your position, whatever it may be.

Activating a fearful future landscape that devastates your current wellbeing. Despair leading to withdrawal in order to protect. Agitation readying for a fight against that which you can not bear. Confusion as to why your fellow humans think so differently than you.

All stories are false. All stories are true. It’s how you live your stories that matters.

What if the sorrow, fear, anger, or disillusionment arrived to invite you into a deep, honest exchange? To welcome you within your stories about how the world should be. So, you may meet the storyteller within you and begin a dialogue.

Sitting within the early morning darkness, candle burning, a cup of tea, a cozy blanket. Perhaps a journal.

Here, you begin the dive within to find that which creates this sorrow that tugs at every aspect of your being. It doesn’t take much to enter the conversation for sorrow has a voice and it spills over with the heartbreak that has been contained within the body and masked by the stories.

You listen as sorrow speaks its anguish that the humans of the world have lost their way.

It begins with evidence garnered from one day of darkness, yet soon spreads to evidence of harm in all directions around the globe, throughout history, upon the planet. Including the harm done to self with judgement, dismissal of voice, and alienation of worthiness. The sorrow cries, allowing despair, disappointment, disillusionment to join the conversation. Emptying, the conversation slows as the body quiets, calmer now as the sorrow has been given its path of movement.

The sun rises, bathing the body in light. As it always does after the dark.

Allowing the eyes to see the beneficial presence of humans. Seeking in the light of day all that is helpful, generous, creative, and beautiful. This luminosity reveals what may not be noticed in the dark. Yet, it serves not as a source to eradicate discomfort. Nor shape deeply felt fear into something unimportant. The brilliance of day also reveals all that you judge, back away from, and condone as wrong.

Don’t be so quick to choose the light.