How to Give Back Like Food Network Chef Damaris Phillips This Season
About a decade ago, I started a tradition with my friends and family that is still the highlight of my year. Around my birthday in early December, I ask my loved ones to pick a card from a Salvation Army Angel Tree instead of buying me a gift. Each card lists a child's name and age and a few toys he or she wants for Christmas. A few of us go shopping for whatever the children request - plus surprises - and then have a big party where we sort all the gifts into piles for each kid. It's like Christmas morning in reverse. Last year we put together huge bags of goodies for 25 kids.
The Angel Tree inspires me because when I see the cards hanging there, I know that months ago a mother went out of her way to go through the application and interview process so her child would have a bountiful Christmas. The Angel Tree represents a mother saying, "This is what I need." It takes a lot of trust and bravery to ask for a hand. And as a community, we respond with "Let me help." We're giving that mom a reason to believe in those around her.
These days it's so easy to be cynical about Christmas, about people, about our country. But it’s also so simple to take action and do something about it. You can think, Hey, for a kid waking up on Christmas morning, I'm going to help his mom show him the opposite of cynical.
Besides, I love the challenge of shopping on a budget. I designate a certain amount of money for each child and load up on as many gifts as possible for that amount. In my family there were five kids, which is a lot of stockings to fill. My mom had to watch every penny, so during the year she would be on the lookout for the best deals and put gifts away so we could all have plenty of presents at the holidays.
That's what I do for the Angel Tree kids. In January I buy hats and gloves at a deep discount, and I'm on the lookout all year long for things like art supplies and soccer balls. I would never ordinarily go shopping on Black Friday, but if the stores near me have certain expensive toys like Barbies or Legos on sale, I will be there.
My goal is to create magic for these kids. In the process, my family experiences so much joy. That’s what this time of year is supposed to feel like.
Damaris Phillips is the author of Southern Girl Meets Vegetarian Boy and the cohost of Southern and Hungry. See her recipes and follow her adventures on Instagram @chefdphillips and Bluebird and Blackberries.
This story originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of Woman's Day.
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