The Craftiest Workshop

These words taken from Acts 20:35 can hold a variety of meanings. One can give or share money, time, talents, knowledge or resources.

I was chatting with a friend about how often we give money out of a feeling of guilt or because we are compelled to. How is giving out of sense of obligation meaningful? Why do we continue donating to a church that we no longer have ties or affiliation to? Why do we donate money to a charity even though we don’t really know where the money goes?

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or by compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9: 6-8

If giving is supposed to be something done cheerfully and from the heart, then the way that you give needs to suit you. For me, I get excited and passionate about sharing to create a sense of balance in a community. Sharing things with others things that you either no longer need, or have an excess of, allows others to gain things that they may need for their mental or physical well-being.

Here are some examples of ideas I have come across.

Book or food mini libraries in your front yard or in community parks. People bring a book or a can of food and then take what they want/need. Here is a book cupboard that my brother and his wife have in their front yard.

Librairies have the ability to be a central point for many people. I have seen a number of different lending/giving programs hosted by the library in communities that I have lived in. These same programs could potentially be implemented by a church community.

• Food pantry shelf. Patrons can donate non-perishable food and sanitary items. Most of these items would be individual meals, snacks, drinks or supplies.. As urban dwellers normally spend their time downtown where librairies are often located, this gives them a place to go to grab what they might need.
• Winter clothing cupboard. Gently used coats, mitts and hats are donated and offered to those who need warm clothing during our brutally cold winters.
• Board game and puzzle lending library. Instead of donating them to a thrift store that sells them, why not pass them on to someone else with a similar interest and let them enjoy them for free. This sharing can help ward off the winter blues that many people feel.
• Seed lending library. After harvest, the library is encouraging patrons to collect extra seeds from their gardens and offer them to others for the following spring.
• Tool lending library. New or nearly new tools are donated to be lent out to people who have not yet amassed a collection of tools like we have.
• Library of things. This could be things like a sewing machine, cricut, GPS, telescope, croquet set, discs for disc golf, snowshoes or even a blood pressure monitor.

See what programs your library offers and maybe suggest that they add some of these.

Even our local dump has figured out a way for people to give away reusable things. Access to the dump is free for county residents. You can leave any item that you might have otherwise put in a garage sale or donated to a thrift store. They sort everything and put it with similar items. When you stop at the dump to leave your garbage or recycling, you can shop for free in the “Shelve and Share” building.

Most major centers have a Habitat for Humanity Restore. It is a place where you can donate left over building supplies from a renovation project or furniture and appliances that you no longer want. The public can go and shop for items, at much cheaper prices than a hardware store and the money goes to support the future build of a home for a family who needs housing. We went to our local Restore last week and found something the hardware store no longer had in stock.

In Edmonton there is a place called the Reuse Centre. It is literally every Early Child Educator’s dream store. People donate a variety of different things and you can go in and take whatever you like. It used to be $5 for a bag but this year, because they were closed so long due to COVID, the website says it is FREE. Here is the link to see their list of accepted items. The majority of the items are things that I would consider loose parts. A great way to support educators, artists and crafters while helping to keep material out of our landfills.

Remember…

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

Sharing what you no longer need or want with others that may need or treasure it, is giving.
It is giving without having to spend money and though you don’t often know who has received the gift, you feel good just the same.