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Resources for Advent 2006
Under 12:
- Make Christmas cards and send them to your senators and representative thanking them for their efforts to help the poor and urging them to do even more in the New Year. For names and contact information go to www.house.gov or www.senate.gov.
- Plan a Christmas caroling event in your community or at your school using peace and justice carols. Click here for suggested hymns. Hand out flyers on the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty.
- Spread the word—discuss during each class, or tell one person each day during Advent, one thing about caring for the poor.
- Adjust plans for your group’s Christmas party to incorporate a commitment to the poor (e.g., encourage children to bring gifts for poor children; invite children from a local program for low-income families to join your party).
- Collect toys for poor children as a class project.
Additional Ideas for Children Age 12 and Over
- Learn about how the issues of trade, aid and debt affect poor people around the world. Click here or go to (www.usccb.org/globalpoverty) or (www.catholicrelief.org/globalpoverty) to find background information and “action alerts” describing how you can act. Choose one issue and write an e-mail message to an elected official.
- Find out if your church or school brews coffee that is “fair trade certified”. This certification means that the producers are part of a poverty alleviation program that guarantees producers a fair wage. Organize a sale of fair trade coffee and chocolate at your church or school and encourage these groups to use fair trade coffee regularly. Go to the Catholic Relief Services web site (www.catholicrelief.org) to find out more about fair trade coffee and chocolate.
- Use the Catholic Campaign for Human Development’s Animated Advent Calendar each day during Advent to learn about poverty and Catholic social teaching. Click here or go to www.usccb.org/cchd/education.shtml.
- Take the “Pledge to Combat Global Poverty.” Click here or go to www.usccb.org/globalpoverty or www.catholicrelief.org/globalpoverty.
- o Go on line and search “sweatshops” or “fair trade certified”. Identify one thing you will do to promote fair trade through your choices when you shop.
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