A Great Way to Spread the Christmas Spirit

Merry Christmas, HuffPosters. I'm back from Chile (Feliz Navidad) and Brazil (Feliz Natal), and celebrating with my daughters and my ex (see HuffPost Divorce) in New York. This year's It's A Wonderful Life Award goes to Gregory Schauer, the unemployed man who demonstrated the true Christmas spirit by taking in a homeless woman and her three children for the holidays. Remarkably, when we contacted Greg to tell him about all the people who had written in offering to help him, he told us: "Please let them know that the best thing they can do is pass it on so to speak. Instead of sending me anything, call a shelter, sponsor a family for Christmas, give to the food pantries, spread the spirit of Christmas to as many people as they can." So, in Greg's honor, please go to The Goods, our online store featuring goods and services for those in need, and make a purchase in Greg's name* (My choice was to help pay the rent of a family in need).

*Before adding your selection to your cart, click the box that indicates you want your donation to be a gift, put down Greg Schauer as the recipient, and [e-mail] as the recipient's email. We'll make sure he gets your message.

 

 

 

Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff

Comments

[guveqzero]

01:21 AM on 12/26/2010

For a country losing the war on poverty, our leaders seem clueless. They would rather believe in a fantasy than to face a reality that will require them to change. No more exporting of US jobs, or sale of IP, or transfer of our ideas, and the neglect of our own homes. 15 million people in the United States are hurting, but are they even listening?

[chrisreadabook]

01:54 PM on 12/26/2010

Do any HuffPosters know of a site where we can go to view either companies that HAVE outsourced overseas, or those that HAVEN'T? Could HP help to organize a boycott of companies that have shipped our jobs to other countries? That's how _I_ would like to help in 2011 -- by boycotting outsourcers....

[Brenda Roberts 78]

12:50 AM on 12/26/2010

I work at a shelter in a small town, and I am pleased to report that our community was VERY generous this year, helping those in need. The current economy has hit everyone hard here, but people have given as much or more than before. I know this is the exception, but I want everyone to know that there's at least one community where people pulled together in the Christmas spirit.

[Ana4]

10:53 PM on 12/25/2010

O Holy Night: (Awesome renditions)

http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=sDeXUvWbLp8

http://worriersanonymous.org/Christmas/Holynite.html

Silent Night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtQr81k3TSk&feature=related

--by Celtic Woman
With Love to all at HuffPost

[Hiqutipie]

10:19 PM on 12/25/2010

Thats America for Your... They may have been screwed by their leaders of industry & politics...and Yet the Spirit to care for each other lives on in the people...Country's aren't the corporations or politics but the People...People build countries not corporations or politics...When these leaders of academics, industry & politics decide to lead the people they serve the country & the people will be served well...When the politicians are as good as those they serve the world will be a better place...

Merry Christmas...God Bless...Happy New Year

[Ana4]

10:14 PM on 12/25/2010

Greg Schauer is right. With so many homeless and hungry in this country (you wouldn't believe the figures) giving any extra money one may have to feed pantries and shelters is a gift worth giving.

May I add that Native Americans on reservations are in need of assistance at all times, but especially in Winter. Many tribes don't have casinos. They do however have less than adequate heating, shelter, food and clothing; less than adequate, sometime's NO heating even in snowy locations. It's a travesty.

If I may suggest two places in need that can be searched online, please consider supporting:
SouthWest Indian Foundation (SWIF), in New Mexico, and the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Winters are harsh, employment is scarce. We've failed them so far; the children don't deserve the lack of an education (much less food) that we all take for granted and provide our families.

Blessings to all this Season and into next year. Aho Mitakuye Oyasin! (and so to all my relations). We are all "brothers," all one humanity. Peace.

[fisher65]

08:19 PM on 12/25/2010

Merry Christmas all! thank-you Arianna for and Roy for huffington post.

[cozmot]

04:57 PM on 12/25/2010

Thank you Arianna for "passing it on." And thank you also for the wonderful gift of the new iPad interface for HuffPost. It's an amazing improvement and my favorite way if reading HuffPost now. Felix Navidad and felices fiestas to all!

[maninla]

02:28 PM on 12/25/2010

A very merry Christmas to all. Happy Holidays.

http://kitchensinkradio.podomatic.com/entry/2010-12-07T03_17_01-08_00

http://www.blubrry.com/c11568/410919/a-kitchen-sink-christmas/

[Old Army Grunt]

12:44 PM on 12/25/2010

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

[gnorrfa]

12:36 PM on 12/25/2010

merry christmas to all!

[Mikki Shull]

12:28 PM on 12/25/2010

Thank you for the Christmant wake up call!!

[swift goat pet for truth]

12:19 PM on 12/25/2010

Merry Christmas to all.
May today be one of peace and love.

[LegalizeWeed]

12:23 PM on 12/25/2010

merry christmas

[MISTERUNCONVENTIONAL]

12:02 PM on 12/25/2010

>by taking in a homeless woman and her three children for the holidays.

How did he ask them to leave, politely, to go back out on the street after the holidays were over?

[RockyBlue3]

04:46 PM on 12/25/2010

I thought he just asked them over? I don't think he's gotten to that part yet.

[Bumble Bee]

11:30 AM on 12/25/2010

Used to be, not too terribly long ago, that wishing someone "Merry Christmas" as a simple but meaningful way to spread the Christmas spirit. These days, too often than not, it's only worth a snear, roll of the eyes, and accussation of bigotry. So very sad.

[Unitynow8]

12:54 PM on 12/25/2010

I think I wouldn't mind it so much (including God Bless) if it wasn't so pervasive and not really sincere. People say it and it sounds like G'day, Guten Tag, Gruezi, Gesundheit.
Knee jerk like.
These holidays, I don't care anymore which one it's all year long is all about spending money, sales, price off, 0 down pay later and not about anything spiritual or caring.

[Ana4]

10:23 PM on 12/25/2010

We have to make it what we want it to be, in our localized 'world' imho.

[dutchdragonfly]

11:28 AM on 12/25/2010

My little kitties are snuggled inside all safe and warm. So I'm working on providing a little shelter for the puppy down the street who was left out in the rain all week while his *mommy & daddy* left to enjoy their holiday elsewhere. Thank you, Arianna, for publishing a Pay it Forward message.
Merry Christmas to all.