live and give
October 12, 2009 · Print This Article
| Oct ’08 |
| 31 |
Join the generous revolution - give away
Idea in a nutshell. - ‘Live & Give’
Join with other youth groups/church groups/action groups to go ‘trick or treating’ on Halloween to collect non-perishables. Phone cards, met cards, food or toiletries are a great way to support people who have no income to buy the basic things we take for granted.
This will be a fun way to look outside our needs, support people and actually meet our local communities.
Goods will go to a local charity/group (chosen by the group) or centrally to Hotham Mission’s work with asylum seekers and the Indigenous hospitality house.
These are good outcomes from my perspective.
Currently, approaching and looking for interested congregations and groups to try it this year. Contact me if you are interested - age@morepraxis.org.au Thinking it may become a good annual event.
Main costs would be the printing of cards for a letterbox drop. (or give tees although shipping time could be an issue)
Process:
- Adverstise and gather your group from now (maybe do a night on generous revolution generousrevolutionsheet)
- work out a realistic route for your walk
- Advertisement postcards to be letterbox dropped the week before Halloween.
- dress up
- meet and brief
- walk, collect and have fun
- donate the non perishables to your group (or back to me to get to the central groups)
Remember to be smart about door knocking (particularly as we don’t practice ‘trick or treating’ in oz)
- go in groups,
- Identify your self, group and what you are doing,
- remain outside the homes and
- be friendly.
About Central Groups
Hotham Mission
The Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project (ASP) is a Uniting Care agency that works with asylum seekers living in the community who do not have work rights, income or Medicare. These asylum seekers are on bridging visas and living lawfully in the community awaiting a decision on their refugee or humanitarian claim, yet are denied any government supports. Treat asylum seekers this Halloween!
Indigenous Hospitality House
The Indigenous Hospitality House (IHH) was established in response to a report written by Indigenous workers at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Lookin’ After Our Own, which identified the need for appropriate accommodation for families supporting a patient. IHH functions as a kind of extended family home, where those that live in and around the main house share the duties associated with welcoming, cooking, cleaning and chatting with guests. Treat Indigenous people this Halloween!
Local Groups
[...] in a nutshell. - ‘Live & Give’ (go to this link at [...]
Live and give has merit as an idea BUT:
1. door knocking is not a safe practice and our church would not be happy for the Youth Group to do this
2. why not have this type of event centred on Mothers Day, Fathers Day or Christmas rather than associating it with Halloween. It can rightfully be suggested that we all have too much stuff, and so to buy for others is a great alternative, but please leave the Halloween association out of the equation. It doesn’t fit with Australian culture and Christianity.
Hi Adrienne,
Yep you’re right it is a counter cultural idea. That’s the idea.
Local mission is risky and door knocking and meeting your neighbours is a bit confronting but that is why I had the “remember” section about being smart, groups and etc. But crossing boundaries and engaging your community is worth it.
The culture of trick and treating for lollies in not really here in Oz but that is why as more and more groups seem to be visiting my door I want to subvert the self gain culture of the event and build a new culture of generousity before it takes hold. It is about creating culture. I thing that if we did have it the kids and families would be more resistant to their loss. Much like the families at mothers day are more likely to have a roast than walk the streets.
But feel free to collect and give things to those with need in your community, meet your neighbours and move your church from the safety of the building when ever and by what ever means you feel comfortable with. Hope your community is made better through your faith in action. Have fun.
I think you got in first Age - I agree that Halloween is not part of our culture. I can see that the generosity revolution does not seek to tack-on something to the event of halloween as a shallow way of collecting for a good cause. Exactly the opposite is true. Its suggested as an “action” - a way to be counter-cultural and subvert the “gimme-or-else” trick-or-treat idea. I think of this more as a way to protest than a way to participate. This is always risky, hence the operating parameters - do this in a group with adults, and be polite, etc.
i agree! Some of the most entrenched Christian traditions have come about in exactly the same way - like Easter, for example.
It’s a tops idea.
Lets be Culture Makers!