Title: “Christmas Stockings Filled With Love”
Exhibitor: Linda Petersen
Description: Serving others by preparing and giving Christmas stockings
filled with small toys and other trinkets can bring joy to some who may otherwise not receive any Christmas gifts at all. Collecting items is a year-round activity that involves family members and others who want to share the Christmas spirit with kind acts of service. Customizing the contents make the stockings even more special.
How To’s:
Getting Started
Content Ideas
Getting started is easy. Look around in your neighborhood, ward or at your work. Is there a divorced mother struggling to raise her children? Usually there is. That mother usually is overwhelmed and stretched to the max. Also she is probably struggling financially and does not spend money on herself. A stocking filled with small goodies could really brighten her Christmas morning and let her know that she is not alone. If not a divorced woman, there is probably a widow in your area. While she may have family near she will usually spend early Christmas morning alone. A stocking can bring a smile to her lonely Christmas morning.
The type of stockings you use is up to you. I have been giving to one friend for over fifteen years. Several years ago I bought her a really nice stocking and now we just refill it every year. My sister in law handcrafted a special stocking for my mother in law. For others I just get stockings at the dollar stores (it really is much more economical than even making them yourself). There is also always a need for such stockings at such places as domestic violence shelters and homeless shelters.
Keeping track of what you buy throughout the year can be done
in several different ways depending on your organizational style. For myself, I just have a large basket in my
closet where I keep all the items I have purchased. I look through it periodically and see where I’m short. If you are more organized you can keep a running
list in your day timer and refer to it when you’re out shopping.
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Single working mother
Socks
Lotion
Bubble bath
Pens
Stationary
Hair accessories
Message pads
Small treats (such as chocolate)
Emery boards
Small books
Oven gloves
Gloves
Small kitchen items (you know, the ones you never get around to replacing)
Inspirational plaques
Bumper stickers
Widow
Same as above
Stamps
Cassette tapes or CDs
Picture frames
Small cross stitch kits
Magazines
Etc.
Children
Bubble bath
Lip gloss
Pencils
Fun erasers/pencil sharpeners
Candy
Small toys
Fun socks
Children’s magazines
Card games
Lotions
Hair accessories
Small stuffed animals
Magic tricks
Etc.
It is also fun to customize the stocking to the interests and
hobbies of the recipient. One of my
friends loves to garden so I put small gardening items (gloves, seeds etc.)
in her stocking
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