gift
A PRICELESS
This holiday season, consider giving the gift of volunteering By Ingrid Schaefer Sprague
L
isa Durbin, of Twinsburg, wanted her family to experience the satisfaction of giving back, which she first experienced while working as a teacher of military dependents on a U.S. Air Force base in Japan. Twenty years ago, Durbin helped serve prisoners on a naval brig. She then encouraged her husband Mark and children Kiara, Marissa and Liam to participate in giving back at Hanukkah. “Instead of giving our children gifts each day of Hanukkah, on every other day of the eight days of the Jewish holiday, we opted to give back through various giving opportunities in our community,” Durbin says. The Durbin family selected gift tree requests from a beauty salon in Twinsburg, the City of Twinsburg
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Family Living At Its Best
fitness center, a martial arts dojo, and a mitten tree at Bissell Elementary School. “What I hope my family got is that the holidays are a season of giving, not just receiving,” she says. As the holidays approach, do you wish you could provide your children with a gift that would give joy beyond the winter break? This year, consider giving a gift of your time and effort by volunteering for your favorite organization. Here are some to consider this season
PLANET AID
Ever wonder what happens to the contents of the big yellow collection bins with the picture of the Earth on the side? Planet Aid uses those clothes donations to support community
based projects and organizations local and abroad. Planet Aid Operations Manager Patrick Kearney says they serve people on two fronts; economically and environmentally by providing local jobs and a local service to collect and recycle textiles, diverting from the landfills and giving them an extra life to continue. Volunteers can help Planet Aid (planetaid.org) by donating to the Yellow bin and or advocating support as a brand ambassador.
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES
Another worldwide charity with local presence is Ronald McDonald House Charities, with a Cleveland House and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms within Cleveland Clinic