Etobicoke church raises money for Nicaraguan well
This year, Pastor Darryl Dash is advocating the purchase of modest relational gifts over expensive luxury items for friends and family members.
For instance, instead of buying a video game for kids, Dash suggests parents invest in a baseball bat. Not only does such an alternative afford families hours of quality time spent participating in fun activities together, but the hundreds of dollars in savings can be donated to worthy charities, he said.
"Christmas is fun, but everyone always ends up with stuff they can't afford and don't really need, which is silly in a world where 1.1 billion people can't even afford clean water to drink," he said.
Richview Baptist's charity of choice is Living Water International, a non-profit, interdenominational Christian service ministry that provides drinking water to people in developing countries.
In his own household, Dash and family are comparing what they spent on Christmas gifts last year with what they've doled out this holiday season and donating the difference towards a Living Water project.
"We've spent a mere sixth of the amount of last year," he said. "My kids are eight and 13, so at first they were just trying to get their heads around the idea. But it's been fun for them to think up more personal gifts - they've had to get creative with it."
While Dash said he initially feared that he'd come across as the Grinch who stole his young parishioners' Christmas gifts, most kids have embraced the idea of helping others in need.
"It's helping us to enjoy Christmas more rather than detract from its spirit with money worries," he said.
This Sunday, Richview Baptist will collect a special offering with 100 per cent going towards the construction of a well in Nicaragua, something Dash said he's been told can make a world of difference to the people in need there.
Barry Hart, president of Living Water Canada, said the benefits of such well projects are more than just a clean and dependable source of water. "It brings everything from peace of mind to better living conditions," he said.
