Heart-Fire Ministries is one local charity that is sure to warm your heart this Christmas.  This is their 13th year of operating a Christmas Store that is rather unique, but they need YOUR help. The Christmas Store opens this week Tuesday, December 16th. Here is how it works:

'The Christmas Store' is scheduled for December 16 - 18, 2008. The Store is open to needy families with children who are hand picked by the organizations and churches we partner with. The Store allows families to purchase new gifts at 90% [off] of the retail price. The best part is when the children open these presents at Christmas, the parents can say with pride, "We bought these nice gifts for you!", not just receiving another hand-out. 

According to their Christmas Store web page, there are different areas you can help with: 

Volunteer

1) Work at The Christmas Store assisting shoppers, wrapping gifts, greeting & ministering to our guests (Noon - 5:00pm) [There is a web sign up list on the right side of the page. This need seems to be met, but they are taking names on a waiting list.]

2 ) Prepare & serve refreshments in the cafe [You can sign up for this job on the web page]

3) Contribute a financial gift or gift card [Maybe you received a gift card to a store that you cannot use? Put it to good use here.]
Mail: PO Box 14031, Milwaukee, WI 53214
Online: Donate online here

4) Donate new, unwrapped Christmas gifts for children ages 0 - 16
(Click here for a list of gift suggestions)

Gift Donation Drop Spots:

Elmbrook Church Child Enrichment Center
777 N. Barker Rd. (lower level)
Brookfield, Wisconsin

and

Eastbrook Church

Northbrook Church

World Harvest Community Church

Heart-Fire Ministries has been around since 1981:

Heart-Fire Ministries was birthed out of a desire to reach the lost and hurting on the streets of Milwaukee . Ray Jablonski, Executive Director, has been active in ministry for over 25 years. Ray was miraculously saved and his life was changed through a one-on-one encounter with Jesus. Returning to the streets where he came from, Ray brings a message of hope and life. From Heart-Fire Ministries’ humble beginnings witnessing to students on the UWM campus, HFM has since shared the Gospel with thousands in the central city of Milwaukee and beyond.

Renee' Lowerr told me she helped out last year. Check out the slide show and see what it is like...especially photo 20!: The Christmas Store 2007  This year Renee' is going again to wrap presents. Can you help too with a donation or your time? Like many charities, donations are down this year.

Heart-Fire is located at 817 N. 27th St., Milwaukee, WI 53208, (414) 445-9490

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links: 

Tis the season! The  Salvation Army Red Kettles are out and about in shopping malls and in front of local businesses.

This year, the Bluemound Pick 'n Save in the Brownstones shopping mall is again allowing the Salvation Army bell ringers to collect donations in front of their store. Thank you, Pick 'n Save! (The Red Kettle is located outside at the east entrance.)

Brookfield resident Tom Wacker* and long time bell ringer will be manning the kettle at the Pick 'n Save at various times between now and Christmas.

Tom used to be a fixture at the Elm Grove Sentry store at Christmas time, but since that store closed and became a Sendik's, they no longer allow the Salvation Army to collect at their location. (Many have tried to convince them otherwise, but they won't budge on that issue. Sendik's says they contribute to local charities through their Food magazine and in other ways.) 

Tom sent out this message to his past supporters: 

Now is that special time of the year when I look forward to sharing some Christmas good wishes and help raise funds for my favorite charity, the Salvation Army.  This past year has presented more than a few of us with some special challenges.  But I think you'll agree that they pale in significance compared to the most difficult problems encountered by those of us that the Salvation Army serves.  And as always, they deliver those services in a most caring and efficient way. 

If you care to, please join me in contributing to their fine work.  Through your generous gifts, last year I was able to "stuff the kettle" with a total of $1740 in checks from you! 

Tom is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit, so stop by, say hello, and throw something in the pot!

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