I think it’s about time I introduce myself. I’ve actually been faithful to this blog since it began. I’ve read every article, nearly every comment, and I’ve even been mentioned from time to time. I’ve actually even contributed something on occasion, not to mention that I set up this whole blog before it began. My name is Lee, I’m Lynn’s husband, and I’ve never been on WIC.

That’s technically true, but it feels like I was on WIC for years. I was never on WIC when I was an infant/child, and technically, I can’t be on WIC now (since I’m not a woman, infant, or child). Even still, being the husband of a mom who was on WIC had its own advantages and disadvantages.

Realistically, food that comes into our house will be accessible to everyone living in the house. As my wife has written, I lost 15 pounds on what she called the Juicy Juice diet. If we have bologna, cheese, and bread, I’m going to make myself a sandwich. If I see milk in the fridge, I’m going to have some on my cereal (which was probably Quaker Oats…another popular WIC food my family loved). So even though I was never “on WIC,” it sure seemed like I was.

Yet I rarely had to deal with the cashiers at the stores, or the wait at the WIC office. And when I did, it was only because I was tagging along with my wife, rather than as the one who had to deal with these things on a regular basis.

But that doesn’t mean that those things didn’t affect me. I often received phone calls from my wife while she was crying after she was at the grocery store or WIC office.

And the decision to receive WIC wasn’t an easy one for me, either. I had to swallow my pride, since I have the desire to be able to fully provide for my family. But I had to weigh this against the need for me to be there for and with my family. One side of the issue stresses the importance of working and standing on one’s own feet, but the other side realizes that even if I did that successfully, I would ultimately fail my family because I would not have been there for them.

So even though I’ve never been on WIC, I’ve definitely had to wrestle with some of the issues that those on WIC have to deal with. And I’m really glad that we’re not on it anymore (but I support everyone’s decision to remain on it as well).

Any husbands of WIC moms out there reading this blog? What’s your experience with the WIC program?

Related Posts:

The Juicy Juice Diet: How my husband lost 15 pounds. Feeding Toddlers Healthy Do You Worry About Arsenic or Lead in WIC Juice?

I recently read a post on Diaper Swappers: WIC – How I was Raised Against Government Aid. It was written by what appeared to be a very kind mom who it sounds like was raised in many ways similar to how I was raised. Yet we ultimately decided differently when it came to whether or not to receive WIC benefits…and I think that’s fine!

She talked a lot in her post about how she didn’t judge people on WIC, but just couldn’t bring herself to use it unless it was absolutely necessary. I got the impression that “absolutely necessary” meant just that. Not “we can’t pay our internet bill this month or pay for our cell phones without the help of WIC,” but rather “we cut out EVERYTHING that wasn’t absolutely necessary and still can’t afford to take care of our baby without WIC.” To be completely honest, I think very few people on WIC are in that second situation. The exception would be for those who have a child with multiple severe food intolerances who have found themselves with a baby who’s in need of a very very expensive formula. I’m not sure what the writer of that article would do in that situation, and hopefully she doesn’t ever have to face it.

I think the position that the writer is taking is one to be commended. I understand wanting to do something like care for your child on your own without having to rely on someone else. It’s satisfying. It’s good for us. My family currently doesn’t get WIC, even though my littlest one would qualify, and it does feel nice to not use WIC. And the writer seems to understand that it’s okay to get help if you qualify for it, even if you don’t absolutely NEED it. She said she didn’t judge those people, like me, who have gotten WIC help during times when we could have made do without it. I believe she’s telling the truth, too. But the last paragraph she wrote made me sad:

Was anyone else raised this way? Do you struggle and think that any form of aid equals failure for you, but yet if anyone else takes it you understand totally and don’t think ill of them? Maybe I’m just the odd woman out, sitting in my own world holding myself to an impossible standard for no real reason other then that’s what my parents said.

I wish I could give her a big hug and tell her she’s a good mom and convince her that she wouldn’t be a failure for taking advantage of a government program that she qualifies for!

My sister qualified for a government scholarship from our state for getting a 30 on her ACT in high school. My parents would have NEVER taken money from the government in the form of food stamps when they were poor newlyweds (even though they definitely qualified for it). But when they were an upper middle class family and my sister “earned” money from the government, it was suddenly appropriate to have other tax payers help pay for my sister’s education. My parents paid for most of my sister’s college education, and they could have paid for it without that check from the government. It was way less of a struggle for them to pay her college bill than it was for them to put food on the table their first couple years of marriage.

Certain programs have a stigma around them, though. If you’re rich and want to buy solar panels, it’s socially acceptable to get the tax credit that gives you a refund on part of your solar panel expenses, and no one can tell me someone installing solar panels on their house NEEDS the government’s help to make it! When the Bush administration sent out “stimulus checks to most working Americans, I didn’t hear ANYONE say that we should tear it up if we didn’t absolutely need it. If you were a new home buyer a few years ago, it was socially acceptable to take the $8,000 new home buyer’s tax credit that was meant to stimulate the economy, even if you didn’t need it to buy a home. If you “earn” a scholarship for school, whether through a private organization or through the government, it’s perfectly appropriate to tell the world and be proud that someone else is footing part of your education for you (by the way, scholarship money doesn’t just magically appear because someone got good grades in school. Someone generously gives money to be given to people who choose to go to college, which itself isn’t a necessity in life).

To the mommy who is qualified to receive WIC, but who is not on WIC: it was humiliating to me the first time I used a WIC check. I cried in the car on the way to the store. I was raised that this was wrong and I knew that I didn’t absolutely NEED to use that check for us to get by. But I also knew that we were in a tight spot and the WIC check would make things a little easier.

If you’re not on WIC and the benefits of not being on it outweigh the negatives of being on it, then that’s fine. Stay off it. If it’s easier to avoid the sometimes annoying and long WIC appointments and the hassle of using a WIC check and scrape by without it, then don’t use it and feel satisfaction that you’re doing it on your own when the government doesn’t seem to think you should be able to.

But if you’re dreaming of how much help it would be to have 3 extra boxes of free cereal a month, a pound of beans, a $6-12 voucher for fresh produce, and some free milk and eggs each month, then swallow your pride and know that it’s OK to go get the help. It’s okay that you could make do without it. If the thought of having that extra food and not needing to pay for it would really help you reach some other goals, maybe saving for your child’s future college expenses some day or saving for a down payment on a home, then go apply.

You probably don’t NEED it, but if it will help, then try to see that it really isn’t any different than the millionaire who applied for a tax credit because he installed solar panels on his mansion. I guarantee that no millionaire’s tax person skips getting them that rebate from the government!

How were you raised to think about programs like WIC? Did that impact your decision about being on or off it?

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Do I feel ashamed for being on WIC? Food Stamps are easier to qualify for in DC than WIC Should I Feel Guilty For Accepting WIC?

I received an email last week from Nimali Fernando MD, a pediatrician who blogs as Dr. Yum. She ran across my blog and wanted to let me know that she liked a certain post that I had written about juice, and directed me to a post that she wrote that may be useful to the readers of my blog. It was such good information that I thought about simply directing you to read her article (and you should!), but I’m sure you know that I’ve just got to add some of my experiences and thoughts :)

Nimali made five points in her article. The first and the second were very similar: toddlers don’t need much food and toddlers each unpredictably. This is so true! I don’t think my kids know the meaning of the word “hungry.” Some days they tell me a million times that they’re hungry, but then when dinner’s ready, they take one look at it and tell me they’re not hungry. Then there are other days when they will eat whatever I put in front of them. Sometimes we just need to be flexible in the way we prepare and serve food.

Her third point was don’t get on the “juice train”. Just because something sounds healthy and is marketed as healthy, doesn’t mean it’s healthy. The juice we may receive from WIC is one of the worst things we could give our kids because of the sugar content. That being said, if you water it down considerably, it adds a bit of flavor to water and could be an excellent substitute for soda.

The last two points in the article had to do with healthy eating: don’t get on the “junk food train” and make healthy food appealing. In the midst of this points, she wrote, “Model healthy eating by showing how much you enjoy these foods.” This is great advice! We often eat separately in my family, such as in front of the tv, at the computer, and at the table, but my husband noticed that our kids will eat more and better when we eat with them around the table. They see us eating and liking foods which they typically reject, and decide to try them and end up liking them after all. It may seem old fashioned, but it’s good for the whole family in many ways.

What kinds of things have you done to make sure your kids are eating well?

Related Posts:

Is the Government Responsible for Encouraging Healthy Eating? WIC Juice…which is best? The Juicy Juice Diet: How my husband lost 15 pounds.

Photo by Chris Baker

I received an email a few days ago from a college student named Caitlin S. who’s writing a research paper on WIC. She read some of the articles on my blog and thought that my perspective would be valuable to her research, so she asked if she could ask me a few questions. I said absolutely! Here is a portion of the Q & A (slightly edited to fit this blog).

What was your job title as a WIC employee?

WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

Number of years as a WIC employee?

2 years

Number of years that you received WIC benefits?

I started getting them first when my oldest was 6-8 months old and I was breastfeeding her. I believe we stayed on WIC for about 2 years, but I don’t remember for sure. I got pregnant with my 2nd child while we were on WIC, and I believe I stayed on WIC until right around the time that he was born. Our income fluctuated each month, but we were close to the income cut off, and I just decided we could manage without it at that point.

We moved to another state while I was pregnant with our 3rd child. Along with my oldest 2 children, I enrolled in WIC halfway through that pregnancy. I actually wasn’t planning on enrolling in WIC at this point1, but had to go to their office to get a pregnancy test to prove I was pregnant for medicaid (I was seeing a direct entry midwife for my prenatal care instead of an OB and because midwives aren’t legal in the state we live in she couldn’t verify the pregnancy for insurance).

They told me at the WIC office that in order to sign me up for medicaid, they needed to sign me up for WIC, too. I didn’t want to, though, because I thought we could manage our grocery bill without WIC, and didn’t want to deal with the multiple appointments (which in our last town tended to take a LONG time, much of it sitting in a crowded waiting room). Plus, I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of using WIC in the grocery store. When she said they were required to sign me up, I didn’t want to argue with her. I figured if I had to go to the appointments, I may as well get the benefits for all the kids and not just me.

Three of us on WIC turned out to be quite a big help to our grocery budget, and the appointments took less time than at the previous clinic. I stayed on WIC until my baby turned 1 year old (so about 18 months total that time). At that point, the breastfeeding food package was dropped and my oldest child had been dropped from the program because she aged out. The amount of food we were getting from WIC had decreased considerably, and I also found out that we were in an income bracket eligible for food stamps. Food stamps provided us with more money to spend on groceries than we normally spend in a month, so it would have been a waste of time to get food stamps and WIC. We only received food stamps for 6 months, but that extra help put us in a spot where once we got off food stamps we still felt we could do okay without WIC.

What’s your opinion about the WIC program?

I don’t believe our government should be in charge of programs like WIC, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t participate in it while its available.

I believe it wastes a lot of money, much of which could easily be cut.

I believe that the biggest benefactor of the WIC program is not the low income families it helps but large companies like Nestle, who care more about their profits than the health of women, infants, and children.

I believe that because of WIC, the cost of items like formula and bread are higher than they need to be, which really hurts families financially who need to buy these items but are just above the income bracket for WIC.

I have many more opinions, too, but those are probably some of my stronger opinions. I do think that if it weren’t for WIC, we would have many more families breastfeeding (or at least trying harder to breastfeed).

What did you like most about the WIC program while you were a client?

In the first state we lived in, our local WIC program participated with a farmer’s market, and you could go every weekend it was open and get $10 worth of fresh produce for free. This was a win/win for small local farmers and low income families who otherwise might not budget for local, mostly organic produce fresh from local farmers. It really did encourage us to try some new produce and eat healthier. I still would prefer that the government not be in charge of such programs, but giving money straight to small local farmers to feed low income families HEALTHY food sure does make a lot more sense than giving money to commercial corn farmers to help subsidize the cost of corn syrup to make soda pop cheaper for all of America!

Unfortunately, this program was not advertised well and very few WIC clients participated in it. Actually the WIC clinic didn’t even understand the program. They told me I could only get $10 of produce one time, but when I showed up at the farmer’s market, they let me know that it was EVERY week. I believe it went from late spring through the end of October.

What did you like least about the WIC program while you were a client?

The actual process of obtaining WIC foods. Sometimes stores will not have items in stock. Sometimes it can be simple with just a couple extra minutes at the check out line, sometimes checking out with WIC foods can be a nightmare and take forever. I’ve been brought to tears in the check out line, and I’ve had people email me with similar stories. Many times it isn’t that bad, but you never know when you’re going to get a very slow confused cashier, a rude cashier, or have people huffing and glaring in line behind you. When food lists change, sometimes they won’t have the new items in their system as approved, and it can hold up the line for a long time.

Briefly describe the application process, is it difficult and slow moving? Frustrating?

I think that varies from clinic to clinic. When I first called to ask about applying for WIC, they set me up with an appointment 2 months out. I remember being surprised it was going to take them that long to enroll me. Once the appointment time came it was an easy process, though. I believe that clinic was severely understaffed and run poorly. I was given poor nutritional advice during visits, and was frequently in the waiting room way past appointment time before being called back. I don’t believe that my first experience was the norm.

When we moved it was a very easy process. The appointments were always fairly quick as well. I’m positive if I called them up during office hours and asked to get signed back up, they’d give me an appointment within a week.

What critiques of the WIC program come up most commonly from the readers of your blog?

The same thing as what I liked least. The process of obtaining WIC foods at a grocery store can be very tiring emotionally.

The other thing I will hear people complain about, although less often, is the fact that doesn’t WIC provide better substitutions for people who are vegetarian, or vegan, or don’t want to purchase peanut butter with hydrogenated oil, or want to buy whole wheat flour instead of one loaf of whole wheat bread. Basically, they have a different idea of what the healthy food is that they need help purchasing.

If you could pinpoint one reason that women choose not to participate in WIC, what would it be?

I think their are several reasons.

If you’re very low income and qualify for food stamps, you probably have no need to be on WIC at the same time unless you have a child on formula.

If you’re not very low income, the amount of time it can take to go to appointments, combined with the extra time and often embarrassment in the grocery store, make it seem easier to just pinch pennies and do the best you can without WIC. Having 3 in our family on WIC at once meant a lot of free food. However, if you just have one child on WIC getting a small toddler food package, that food package benefit may not be worth the cost of trying to keep frustrating WIC appointments and have a painfully long check out process at the grocery store.

I think many people feel like if they can afford to buy groceries without WIC, they are morally obligated to. To that I would say that if you could afford to turn down the stimulus checks that were mailed out to most of us during the Bush administration, were you morally obligated too? If you can afford private school for your child are you morally obligated to turn down public school?

In one small paragraph, could you give your overall critique of the WIC program?

There are so many facets of the program both good and bad that I struggle to give an overall opinion in a short paragraph. That’s why I have a whole blog dedicated to it. I do believe the program has done some good and helped many families, us being one. But I believe the amount of help it gives has been highly exaggerated and it would be wise of our government to stop funding the program and let the private sector and not-for profit charities take over caring for the poor and low income.

Related Posts:

Increasing WIC Participation It’s Farmer’s Market Time! Waiting on WIC: How Long Do You Wait in the Waiting Room?

I’ve been thinking about starting a message board on WIC woes. What do you think? Good idea or a bad idea?

Some of you may have noticed that I haven’t been as active on my blog lately. But you may not have noticed that the blog has still been getting tons of comments. There are quite a few people who ask questions, answer questions, and give their experiences via the comments section. So while I haven’t been the best about sharing my thoughts about WIC, you all have been GREAT at helping each other!

Other uses for a possible forum may be to share recipes, grocery shopping tips, or even online deals that you run across.

Would you participate in a forum here if we had one? What topics for such a message board would be most beneficial to you?

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I received a few emails a few weeks back from a mom on WIC in North Carolina. She asked if I would like information on North Carolina’s food package, and I told her I’d love to pass it along!

Every state’s food package is a little different, so I appreciate moms who share what their food package is in their particular state. I’d love if you could share your state’s WIC package with me!

WIC Exclusively Breastfeeding Mom Package in NC:

• 5 gallons and 1 quart milk (only 2% or less; not whole)
• 144 ounces juice
• 2 pounds cheese
• 2 dozen eggs
• 30 ounces canned or packed fish
• 1 pound bag of beans, or 4 cans of beans
• 1 jar peanut butter
• 16 ounce bread
• 36 ounce cereal
• 10 dollars fruit and vegetable vouchers

WIC Breastfeeding Infant Package (6-12 month olds) in NC

• 24 ounces infant cereal (3 boxes)
• 256 ounces baby food (fruits and vegetables)
• 77 and a half ounces baby meats

WIC Child Package (2-5 year olds) in NC

• 6 dollars fruit and vegetable vouchers
• 3 gallons and 1 quart milk (2% or less)
• 128 ounces juice
• 1 pound cheese
• 2 breads
• 1 pound bag of beans, or 4 cans of beans, or 1 jar peanut butter
• 1 dozen eggs
• 36 ounces cereal

The North Carolina mom also shared that it’s possible to substitute the milk in the breastfeeding mom and child packages for either soy or lactaid milk (you may need to get a doctor’s note), but in doing so you will also forfeit some or all of your cheese.

And since we touched on the topic, what’s your opinion on soy vs. lactaid vs. cow’s milk?

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“Ways to Cut WIC Spending” is a guest post submitted to me via e-mail. If you would like to contribute a post to WIC woes, feel free to contact me about guest posting.

I am a former WIC client. I, however, do think there are some things they can do to cut costs and save money.

When my son was transitioned off in 2008, they had not started these expanded basic food package programs that provided fruit, veggies, bread or baby food. I think we need to cut those out and go back to the basic food packages that existed before. Maybe provide modest produce vouchers, but no need for all the others. WIC is supposed to be a supplement program…it seems now to be more than that.

I also think that medical or nutritional risk should be the deciding factor, instead of income. Hence a note from a doctor should be required stating that the pregnant woman is in need of WIC. Her child could qualify for 3 months after birth, but would then also require a note from a doctor in order to continue to get WIC beyond that point.

I also support cutting out postpartum certification with the exception of [breast feeding] support and pump loans for the mother. I also think the cut off age for children should be cut down from age 5 to age 3. WIC should also be administered by the same guidelines in every state, not letting states set their own standards.

WIC is a helpful program, but in this economy we need to triage applicants and cut back so that more can be served.

The author of this guest post wished to remain anonymous, but I’m sure will read any responses you have in the comments section below.

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While tax time is dreaded for many Americans, it’s actually a time when many WIC participants can expect some extra cash.

Thanks to how our government currently handles taxes, if you’re lower income you may even get more back in tax credits than you’re paying in federal and state taxes. Although I personally find our tax system majorly messed up, that doesn’t mean I won’t cash the check they give me.

Warren Buffet continues to pay a lower tax rate than his secretary, and he believes it’s unfair; but that doesn’t mean he’ll voluntarily pay more to the government on top of his mandated share. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made over 20 million per year the last two years, but paid just 14% in taxes.

What’s important to remember, though, is that there’s a good chance you have family and friends who ARE paying a lot more in taxes than you are who are struggling financially just as much and sometimes more than lower income families. Does that mean you need to feel personally guilty about taking the earned income tax credit? No. You didn’t write the laws that allow the super rich and the lower income to get way more in tax benefits at the cost of the middle and upper middle class. But be sensitive that tax time is a very frustrating time for those who are not super rich with big tax breaks, and who are also not low enough income to qualify for many of the government assistance programs you may enjoy (such as free or reduced health care and WIC).

Also, if you can at all afford it, I highly recommend putting some of that tax refund away for a rainy day. I don’t believe my family is going to be low income forever, and sometimes I look at that tax return as a cash advance. One day when my income goes up, they’re going to come back and take it all back (and then some!). They’ll do that at a time when we don’t qualify for any government assistance. So if I can afford to save it now, it won’t hurt as much when I have to pay it later. I know that isn’t possible for everyone, but if you can, save at least some of it!

If you need help with filing your taxes, there’s a good chance you also can get free help filing. My husband and I don’t currently use this as we have some things that complicate our taxes enough that we feel better hiring someone experienced with our situation, but we have used free help before, and it was always quick and efficient. If you would like to see if you can get free help filing your taxes, take a look at this information from the IRS website:

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $50,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing. To locate the nearest VITA site, call 1-800-906-9887.

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I read an article recently about a woman named Elaine. Admittedly, she got pregnant to pay for oral surgery for an infection in her gums. Now, granted that this is something that really can kill you if you mess around with it, as infections that are beyond needing antibiotics in the mouth will spread to the brain if not treated. However, getting pregnant to get medical care is NOT the answer.

There’s no doubt that we’re in a health crisis in America. And if you don’t have dental insurance, it’s not something that you can just snatch up and have it cover oral surgery for a preexisting condition like that. However, there’s a much more economical way to pay for that oral surgery than choosing to get pregnant (think about it: even if you get on government assistance at that point, it’s not going to pay for diapers, or so many other needs that a child will have thoughout his or her life)!

Here is an excerpt from the article:

Elaine admits to getting pregnant at other times just to gain access to medical care. Previously, she’s undergone surgeries and bought much-needed glasses.

She had known for about five years her vision was deteriorating, a nonmedical diagnosis she was forced to make on her own.

“I couldn’t afford to go get my eyes checked,” she said.

They didn’t expressly say that she got pregnant just to get glasses. It could have been glasses among other things. But what if that is what happened? Does this seem just a bit ridiculous to anyone else?

I recently called around and had a little trouble finding an eye doctor that took medicaid for adults like me to get glasses. I found out that a basic exam and eyeglass prescription from the Vision Center at Wal-Mart is $50. That’s it folks. $50. And if you don’t have insurance that cover glasses (or if your insurance only covers very uncomfortable glasses that break easily as was the case for my daughter), then you can still order them online for very cheap. I recently ordered myself a pair of glasses and prescription sunglass from Zenni Optical and I’m pretty sure my total after shipping was less than $30. This was for for TWO pairs of prescription glasses that fit and look great!

I would encourage low income pregnant mothers on government health insurance to use that time to go ahead and get a dental check up or any other needed medical care if you struggle to pay health insurance costs and are going to lose health insurance after your baby is born. On the other hand, if you’re not pregnant and you need some sort of health care and don’t have health insurance, please go and talk to the doctors and be honest with them about your situation. I’m pretty sure if Elaine had made an appointment with an oral surgeon and he saw that she was in serious need of oral surgery he would have provided her with the oral surgery or referred her to someone who would do it for her. Yes, she might have ended up with some medical debt but she wouldn’t have gone without the needed treatment.

This article went on to quote Elaine some more:

Elaine said some women who don’t qualify for the SNAP program can qualify for WIC and, fearing the day their WIC eligibility ends, will get pregnant just to stay in the program.

“I sure as heck wouldn’t get pregnant for milk and cheese, but I know some who have,” she said. “There’s no way to get all the food and things they need.”

This makes ZERO sense. A baby costs more than the benefits that someone gets from WIC! The amount of money spent on diapers, clothing (even garage sale cloths like my kids wear), and other necessities cost way more than how much you save from those gallons of milk and jars of peanut butter from WIC. Not to mention that this additional child grows up and needs to be fed the rest of his or her life.

Elaine is featured in this article to try and encourage people to give to the Salina Christmas Fund (a charity that helps provide gifts for low-income families at Christmas time). What this lady needs, though, is someone with a lot of patience and compassion to explain to her logical ways to get her life and her children’s lives on the right track. She may have needed a handout this Christmas so that her children could have some Christmas cheer, but way more than that, she needs a kind and patient person to come alongside her and give her a hand up. Because she is so confused about how to get herself and her family in a better position if she thinks getting pregnant is the best way to deal with needing glasses.

I know some people probably hear Elaine’s story and are angry. I know part of me thinks that this is the stereotype people had about me when they saw me checking out at the grocery store with food stamps early this year. Part of me wants to say thanks for making people who are on government assistance look greedy and crazy.

But when I think about this lady and her kids, I don’t feel anger, I feel sad. I’m so sad that she hasn’t figured out that there’s a better way to live her life. She’s gotten trapped in the welfare cycle and doesn’t see a way out. Instead, she’s digging herself deeper and deeper into it. I highly doubt that’s what she wants to do, but I don’t think she even knows another option exists.

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God gave up his home in heaven to come into the world as a defenseless baby born in a smelly stable with the ultimate goal of sacrificing himself for you. On Christmas, we celebrate the birth of our example, savior, and creator. A birth that was a sacrifice. We can follow his example and celebrate his birth by sacrificing this year as well.

No matter how little you have, I encourage you to find a charity to give to this year in Jesus’s name if you’re a Christian. In our family, we aim to make sure the person we spend the most on is Jesus. We don’t always succeed in that, but the years we do I’m much happier about our spending. Jesus said, “whatever you do unto the least of these, you have done unto me.”

Now, in America many who are on WIC are considered “the least of these.” Many on WIC also qualify for assistance through an angel tree program or Toys for Tots. My family has never utilized those sorts of programs, but we do keep a tight budget at Christmas. I bought gifts for our kids at garage sales this summer and stored them away and bought a couple things on clearance and stored them away. I’m not completely sure, but I’m thinking it’s a safe guess that we’ve spent less than $50 total on our children for gifts this year.

My husband and I also don’t exchange gifts with each other. (But if you or your spouse has gift giving as their “love language” then I encourage you NOT to follow our example, but rather to find a creative way to give a loving gift on a reasonable budget!)

In reality, though, if you have a roof over your head and food on your plates each day (even if it does come from government assistance), you are not “the least of these.” There are people all over the world that have so much less than us materially, and people all over the world that need the hope of Jesus. I encourage you to find a way this season to give Jesus a gift. These are the gifts that our family usually gives to Jesus: Operation Christmas Child and the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. I’d also highly recommend Compassion International if you’re looking for a charity to give to.

If your children are old enough, make sure to let them know what your family is giving to Jesus for Christmas. You might even buy a small momento gift to wrap that symbolizes the gift you gave Jesus (like a globe keychain if you gave to world missions or a small play food set if you gave to a world hunger charity). Don’t let being low income rob you of the joy of giving this season to the One who is the reason for the season!

Related Posts:

What Our Government Can’t Do What Do You Dream For Your Child? Budget Cuts! Would Jesus Cut WIC?