Holiday Gift Giving | LMAC FreeStyle Collage No. 141

While we're busy selecting the perfect gifts, choosing appropriate wrapping paper to present them, and placing bows and ties on them, remember the ones whom society has forsaken.

Those whose lives have been uprooted by either a natural disaster or just life's disasters in whatever form that was thrust upon them.

It's so easy to forget in our times of plenty for our own loved ones.

Giving doesn't always involve the dispensing of monetary items. The act can include sharing your time with others or other gifts that make you unique. When I think of non-monetary gifts, I think of volunteering. I've often heard the act of volunteering described as such: "Volunteers are priceless." In other words, one can't place a price tag or measure the impact of their service on society.

In every major city or small community, opportunities exist for individuals to volunteer. Homeless shelters. Community centers. Nursing homes. Hospitals and other medical facilities. Donation events. The list is endless as to what one can do if time and resources to attend is available.

However, if you can give monetarily, just know that it's sorely needed. Why homelessness, especially experienced by infants, children, and families in the U.S. can't be cured or eliminated altogether, is a monumental mystery to me. I know that more than one factor is involved.

In a report by Campaign For Children, as temperatures dip into the low double-digits across much of the United States and even blankets some portions of the lower forty-eight states, new data show that the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night hit a new record in 2024, with children experiencing the most dramatic increase.

The number of people experiencing homelessness in an emergency shelter, safe haven, transitional housing program, or in unsheltered locations across the country increased 18% over 2023 to an all-time high of 771,480 people – or about 23 of every 10,000 people — according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Of that, nearly 150,000 children experienced homelessness on a single night in 2024, reflecting a 33% increase; the largest single-year increase of any group. ¹

But as shocking as the figures portray, Campaign for Children report that they still grossly underestimate the actual rate of homelessness among children, youth, and families.

You never know how one small gift or gesture of goodwill may change another's perspective or have a profound impact on that person's life. Giving provides numerous positive aspects to our own wellbeing and sense of compassion, sympathy, empathy, community, and uplifting society as a whole. The act of giving allows each of us to connect with that part of society we don't encounter on a daily basis and is part of our own lives.

With millions of people displaced and disadvantaged each year, the need doesn't end because the holidays arrive.

Remember the often quoted and inspiring words of Scripture:

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

But also remember this, as it is as important as the act of giving itself:

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4

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Hello LMAC and Hive members. I wanted to share with you my latest collage in which the theme entails sharing. My design is called a "freestyle". I can utilize the contest photo if I desire. If you'd like to join in, visit the Community account here.

In preparing my theme, I utilized the recent contest photo that contained pairs of worn shoes. How perfect an image to portray my theme of people in need of assistance, especially the plight of children. Other images I included to complete the theme revolve around the imagery of the holiday season.

Item	Contributor	Source
LMAC Round 241 Contest Image-Shoes lodged in tree	Contributed to #LIL by @bookrak	Link
Snowman in frame	Pixabay	Link
Angel on blue background	Public Domain Pictures	Link
Homeless teen with baby	Pixabay	Link
Golden fairy	Pixabay	Link
Wind power	Pixabay	Link
Fairy sitting	Contributed to #LIL by @eve66	Link
Gift wrapped in green paper	Contributed to #LIL by @seckorama	Link
Pure Fractal titled "Cone Flower - Jade"	@justclickindiva	Link
Pure Fractal titled "Pine Cone1"	@justclickindiva	Link

I then utilized Canva to blend the different images which began with a blank, white canvas. I then added layers of elements, removing backgrounds, resizing, detaching elements from their backgrounds, duplicating, colorizing, and repositioning items as needed incorporating the tools at my disposal in my Annual Pro Membership Subscription.

Below is my completed design:

Thanks for your visit. I appreciate it. I hope you like my freestyle collage theme.