The Gifts for Life catalog can be a wonderful opportunity to teach your children that they can make a real difference in the world by raising money to purchase Christmas gifts that provide real hope and joy to those in need around the world.

As a family, plan creative ways to pool money to purchase a goat or a flock of chickens for a family in need … provide health care to a newborn infant … educate a child orphaned by AIDS for a year … or give a family the gift of fishing supplies to help them earn a living. View all gifts in the Gifts for Life online store.

Here are some creative ideas you and your children can use to raise money to purchase Christmas gifts that will change lives and bring real joy to families in need worldwide:

• Teach your children about compassion. Involve them in selecting gifts. Allow each child to choose a gift that will benefit other children worldwide.

• Pray as a family for people living in poverty around the world.

• Sponsor a neighborhood flea market. Gather books, crafts, clothes and household goods to sell, and use the money you raise to purchase one, two or more gifts from the Gifts for Life catalog.

• Ask friends and family to purchase Gifts for Life for a birthday instead of toys.

• Eat one inexpensive meal each week. Help your children decorate a box or jar, and each week drop the savings from your weekly meal into the container. Then, as a family, choose a gift from the Gifts for Life catalog to send to a family in need.

• Encourage your children to write letters to all their friends, classmates, club and sport-team members, and family to raise money to purchase a special gift to make a difference for children in need.

• Bake homemade cookies and encourage your children to sell them to friends, classmates, and members of your family to raise money for families in need.