Christmas Jars of Giving

An article by Laura Lewis, published in a recent e:newsletter, from Scrap Girls caught my attention and I wanted to share it with you.  They kindly granted me permission to share it with you today. 

For me, this article captures the spirit of a giving heart that touches the lives of many.  I was definitely inspired by it, and hope yu are too!

100 Jars of Love

  by Laura Lewis

My mom loved to read and to serve others. She combined these two joys, and the result has touched the lives of over 100 families across the country. It started when she read the book Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright. She immediately decided to start her own Christmas Jar and faithfully deposited her change each day. Two jars were filled and, as per the Christmas Jar tradition, those jars were delivered anonymously to families in need. The next year she filled more jars and enlisted her family in starting their own jars.

In 2009, just before Thanksgiving, she was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer. She had no risk factors, but instead of asking "Why me?," she maintained her happy attitude and looked for ways to serve others. At this time, she already had two jars filled, but she wasn't content with that. As family and friends asked what they could do to help, instead of bringing food to her, she asked that they start Christmas Jars. She even provided empty jars to get them started. We posted information on her CaringBridge.org site (listed under PatsyShipp) where others across the country and around the world went for updates. She asked everyone she talked to if they would start their own Christmas Jar.

I designed a label to be downloaded and placed on a jar. One day, my dad called and told me to come quickly. When I arrived, my mom was sobbing uncontrollably. When I asked if she was okay, she showed me a note she had received with a check for $100 to "help fill a Christmas Jar." This happened day after day as word of her love of Christmas Jars spread. It was simply the power of one woman, touching lives which resulted in making a difference in the lives of others.

In mid-December, we personally delivered her four jars. She was so excited to know over 25 Christmas Jars were filled in just one month, instead of the usual year, in her honor, and that those jars would be delivered to those in need.

But she wasn't done yet! The first of January, she decided that she wanted everyone to start Christmas Jars for 2010! She gave labels or jars to family that visited from out of town, friends, hospice workers, and everyone she saw. By January, she knew her time was drawing short but wanted the Christmas Jar tradition to continue. We had exhausted our supply of jars, so we needed to order more jars. When they arrived, a few days before she died, her family tied ribbons on 72 jars.

You see, her final request was that we would have Christmas Jars for those at her funeral to take home and start filling for 2010. All 72 jars, plus many more labels, were put in the hands of family, friends, doctors, nurses, and all those whose lives she touched. At the end of 2010, over 100 jars were delivered across the country with the simple label, "Christmas Jar."

This tradition lives on, and this year, even more jars have been added and more hearts touched.
- Laura Lewis



Again, this article definitely inspired me.  I wish I had had a chance to have met Laura's mother, Patsy Shipp.  But, I feel her spirit will carry on. I certainly want to pursue the tradition of filling "Christmas Jars" and giving to those in need.  I've almost filled my first jar and believe it will be ready to give, to someone in need, by Christmas Day.