Giving and getting holiday gifts. It’s a tradition that we honor in most every household across Michigan, particularly in December.

There’s a lot of meaning behind gift-giving. When, why and what we give helps to define relationships, strengthen bonds and provide a sense of belonging to each other, according to psychologists.

The practice of giving goes back a long way throughout human history. Thousands of years ago, native cultures engaged in a ceremony called a potlatch, which basically was an intense give-fest. The person or family who gave the most was most celebrated.

Bottom line: Gift-giving traditions continue because the practice simply makes people feel better.

There are lots of ways you can give this holiday season, whether through time, money, or charitable service. While many, many organizations are deserving of support, there is still great need in a city that is close to our homes and hearts – Flint.

Let’s give what we can now and throughout this coming year to the families that have been most impacted by lead exposure.

The Gift of Milk: Many Flint students will not have access to free milk programs over their school holiday break. With current milk shortages at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, more milk donations are needed to help fill the gap. Calcium-rich foods, like milk, must be consumed daily in order to help protect children’s bodies from absorbing lead.

Donate at: milklife.com/give

The Gift of Tranquility:

Flint families are stressed and in need of programs that help them manage the stressors that have become part of their everyday lives. With your support, the Crim Fitness Foundation can provide even more yoga and Mindfulness programs this coming year. Donate at: crim.org/donate

The Gift of Health & Well-Being:

Everyone can use additional support to improve family nutrition and activity levels. The Michigan Fitness Foundation’s community-based programs offer Flint area families access to resources that can help protect against lead absorption. Cooking and nutrition classes, stress-reducing physical activities, and educational tools like STIR and GOguide (published monthly in TheHUB) are among the many programs MFF provides at no cost to residents.

Donate at: crowdrise.com/michiganfitness

Giving – isn’t it good?

  Crim Fitness Foundation, Michigan Fitness Foundation, Milk Means More

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