Environmentally friendly gift giving

By Susan Bailey |  CFP Correspondent

The time of ramping up for the holiday season is upon us. Each year Catholics must cope with the culture of a commercial Christmas conflicting with the Church’s holy season of Advent.
The world tells us to consume more, do more, spend more than we may have, and indulge ourselves. Advent encourages us to simplify, step away from ourselves, slow down and cut back on the busyness to wait quietly and prayerfully for the coming of the Lord.  Society tells us to give to the less fortunate whereas Advent moves us to give. In the end, an Advent mindset can help us, in the words of Pope Francis, to take care of our “common home.”
In his groundbreaking encyclical, “Laudato Si’” (“On Care for our Common Home”), Pope Francis reminds us of our obligation to protect and maintain our earthly resources so that all persons, wealthy and poor, will have fair access to God’s rich creation.
Peter Dunbeck, chairman of the Worcester Diocese’s Environmental Stewardship Ministry, suggests that our way of Christmas gift-giving can serve the precepts of “Laudato Si’,” protecting the environment while taking care of those we love, and better providing for the needy.
“Everything we can do to reduce consumption is great for the environment,” said Mr. Dunbeck. “‘Reduce’ is the best, most environmentally friendly gift. I would encourage people to buy products that enable a high level of ‘reuse.’” One example he gave was the Soma glass water bottle, which can be used repeatedly, eliminating the need for disposable plastic water bottles. Soma also makes the Soda Stream so you can make your own soda instead of buying it in bottles and cans.
“Laudato Si’” provides the spiritual basis for reduced consumption.
In his article, “Top Ten Takeaways from ‘Laudato Si’,’ Jesuit Father James Martin points out that we are to be stewards of God’s holy and precious gift of the world. By being mindful of how we consume, we can do our small part to ensure that everyone benefits from the goods of creation.
The season of Advent, where less is more, is the perfect time to reflect upon those truths. So how can we adapt our Christmas gift-giving to this Advent mindset? Here are some simple ways:

1. Think about how you can incorporate reduced consumption into your gift-giving. No effort is too small. For example, instead of giving a gift card, give cash. Once a plastic gift card is used, it will be thrown away, while cash will be circulated back into the community to be used by others. This will cut down on plastic being discarded. It’s also the best value – there’s no activation fee for cash!

2. Purchase merchandise at local thrift or consignment shops. Many sell not only clothes, but furniture, household items and toys. Some take donations of goods and support charitable work, like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army. The former has a shop in Worcester; the latter has shops locally in Worcester, Spencer, Northbridge, Fitchburg, Gardner and Webster. For the college student in your life, try Clark University’s Common Thrift Store, founded and run by students. A non-profit, it provides inexpensive college essentials, housewares, furniture and gently used clothing. By shopping at such stores you lend support to local businesses and charities which provide jobs and/or volunteer opportunities in the community.

3. Do you have something that was given to you that was never used? If it looks like new, give it to someone else who would appreciate it or donate it to your local thrift shop or charity. Do you have gift bags that are still in good shape? Use them over again rather than buying wrapping paper that will be discarded. Or unwrap paper carefully and reuse it, along with  bows and ribbons.

4. Look for environmentally friendly products, like those from certified B corporations. Mr. Dunbeck says, “Certification for a B corporation means that they are using socially responsible business practices.” Visit bcorporation.net/directory. There are many categories to choose from as you search for the perfect gift.

5. Local stores sell environmentally friendly products. For example, HomeGoods, located in Worcester (at the Greendale Mall) and Westborough, carries products from Green Toys, made from recycled plastic. A visit to their website at www.greentoys.com offers a fine selection of toys at reasonable prices. Mr. Dunbeck says, “Buying products that use recycled goods creates demand for them.”

6. Support the Giving Tree program at your parish or the gift-giving initiative of the Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope in Worcester. The Urban Missionaries provide thousands of gifts for needy children. Giver and receiver alike benefit. The motto is simple: “Christmas moments. They never cease to bless us. Come have some with us.” Their website is www.urbanmissionaries.com.

7. In your charitable giving, consider Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Climate Covenant (closely aligned with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). Mr. Dunbeck notes that Catholic Relief Services helps refugees from drought areas. Catholic Climate Covenant uses donations to further the cause of “Laudato Si’” through education and activism.
    
8. Books by Catholic publishers present the spiritual aspect of “Laudato Si’.” Boucher’s Good Books in Worcester carries several from Liturgical Press, including “God’s Good Earth,” “Creation is Groaning: Biblical and Theological Perspectives” and “Walking God’s Earth: The Environment and Catholic Faith.” Ave Maria Press has just released “The Grace of Enough: Pursuing Less and Living More in a Throwaway Culture,” by Haley Stewart. This book describes the radical change made by this family of five when they accepted a year-long internship on a sustainable farm with a compost toilet and a tiny house of 650 square feet.
Reflecting on “Laudato Si’,” and living it through the care of our world (both natural and human) through thoughtful gift-giving and charitable works provides unique ways of observing Advent and ensuring a truly Merry Christmas.