Category: Charity

5 Reasons to Give on North Texas Giving Day

#NTxGivingDay is a great opportunity to support your favorite local nonprofit organizations. Here are a few reasons why.

You can’t drive around Dallas these days without seeing signs of North Texas Giving Day.  They’re everywhere.  Your mailboxes (email too) are full of notices and solicitations for gifts to your favorite nonprofits.  They’re calling donors to action, to support charitable organizations over the designated 18-hour giving day this Thursday, September 19.  And you really should consider giving because, to quote my all-time favorite musical: “This is not a moment, it’s a movement!”

North Texas Giving Day started in 2009 as an initiative of the Communities Foundation of Texas as a way to spread awareness about the work of the nonprofit sector in our community. CFT raised $4 million that year to support 345 local charities.  Since then, it has grown to be the largest community-wide giving event in the nation with more than $48 million raised last year.  What’s more the number of participating nonprofits has grown nearly ten times, with 2,690 organizations in 2018.

North Texas Giving Day grows bigger every year with the support of thousands of donors, an affirmation of the effort’s primary purpose: to make giving accessible to everyone.  I’m a huge fan of NTGD and encourage you to consider giving to your favorite local nonprofit this week.  

Here are five reasons why you should give on North Texas Giving Day:

Because everyone is doing it!

I’m generally not one for peer pressure, but harmless philanthropic endorsements are an exception. Last year nearly 160,000 donations were made to organizations spanning 20 counties in North Texas. NTGD has expanded significantly in scale over its decade-long history to include thousands of nonprofits, and each of them runs their own marketing campaign in anticipation of the event. Ask around — I promise you know lots of North Texas Giving Day donors!

Because it’s easy.

The easiest way to support your favorite nonprofits on North Texas Giving Day is to click through their links via social media or email to contribute. (If you’re not following your favorite organizations on social media, you should be.) You can also visit the NTGD website to browse and search for nonprofits by name, zip code, or keyword (service area, etc.). As a bonus, you can schedule your gifts in advance this year (starting NOW).

Because your dollars go further on North Texas Giving Day.

One of the most profound benefits of giving via #NTxGivingDay is the matching funds and other incentives provided by the Communities Foundation of Texas and other sponsors. Many organizations’ gifts are matched dollar-for-dollar. Other organizations are eligible for matching funds and other prizes.

Participating nonprofits are responsible for relaying information to donors about their available incentives. Even those organizations not selected for matching, etc. are eligible for prizes and other fun in-kind gifts throughout the day (click HERE for a full list). So use North Texas Giving Day as an opportunity to make an even bigger impact on the organizations you care about.

Because you can give to new (to you) organizations.

Use North Texas Giving Day as a means to support new charitable organizations. Search the website for organizations near your home or use keywords about your favorite causes to explore the work of nonprofits you may be unfamiliar with. Then make a small gift to support their efforts.

You can rest assured that any nonprofit included in NTGD has been vetted. They represent those charities doing the most good in our community. In fact, most organizations’ GuideStar profile is linked through the North Texas Giving Day profile so you can investigate for yourself.

Because it’s good to do good.

Dallas is one of the most philanthropic communities in the country. It’s no wonder why the North Texas Giving Day movement has been successful here. I love the idea that gifts en masse, no matter the individual amount, make a tremendous charitable impact.

At a minimum, consider giving your typical annual nonprofit gifts on NTGD. You may find your dollar stretched further with matching, etc. But even if you don’t, there’s something about knowing your contribution is part of a larger community effort.

Tell us about your #NTxGiving Day experiences and #whyyougive.

May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.

Thomas Jefferson

Celebrating Community One “Like” at a Time

A Bon Mot Birthday Give Back

Ready or not here comes a birthday…   May is generally one of the craziest months of the year with grading finals, end of school, graduations, summer preparations, etc., so I tend to gloss over any real celebration.  Plus, once you get to a certain age, it’s often better to just ignore the completion of another trip around the sun.  Nonetheless, I’m delighted with the likes of Facebook and other social media outlets that make it so easy to honor birthday boys and girls with gifts to charity. So I decided to do a little experiment.  Throughout this month, I’ll donate one whole dollar (that’s right, $1!) for every new like, follow, and blog subscription we rack up here at Being Bon Mot.   My dearest Auntie Margo, who was notorious for ridiculously long birthday feting, always encouraged me to draw the celebration out as long as possible so I’m honoring her and starting today.     

It’s my birthday, and I’ll give if I want to…

All of the money raised during this “Share the Love” campaign/drive/whatever we’re calling it will be donated to Bonton Farms.  Bonton Farms is one of my favorite nonprofit organizations in Dallas (or really anywhere). And since I’m a believer in direct giving to charity, I’ll keep tabs on our progress and report often to Bon Mot followers (whether you like it or not).  My goal is $250, and I’m committed to give more if things get crazy.  I’m not sure what will happen with this little experiment, but I sincerely hope it will make an impact.

Bonton is a neighborhood in south Dallas where 85% of the men have been to prison and incidences of cancer and diabetes are more than 50% higher than the rest of the city.  Named during its golden age of “high class” (loose translation of bon ton and generally accepted history of the name), Bonton quickly devolved into a food desert with few job opportunities and rampant poverty.  Access to fresh foods was non-existent in the neighborhood. The nearest grocery store was a three-hour roundtrip bus ride for residents. And then Bonton Farms planted its roots firmly in the neighborhood’s soil.  Now Bonton Farms is thriving and the organization’s investment in the health of citizens and the health of community is paying off.  

Inspiration abounds on the farm.

Bonton Farms honey and fresh eggs are a fixture at the Dallas Farmers Market, and their beloved goats should have their own Instagram page.  The farm’s 40-acre extension is one of the nation’s largest urban gardens and provides seasonal produce in easy walking-distance to neighborhood residents. While the idea of an urban farm isn’t necessarily a new one, the use of their crops to grow confidence, develop skills, and support a thriving culture is entirely innovative in our community. Simply put, Bonton Farms is an oasis.

Daron, Trog, Patrick, and the whole team are dedicated to sowing seeds in a struggling community and to the promise of growth in everyone there.  What’s more, the folks at Bonton Farms have always been more than willing to welcome me, my family, and my students to mill about the farm and frolic with the goats and chicks.  We’ve also put in work tending to the livestock and crops there.  Farm staff have even served on a Homeless and Hunger Awareness panel I hosted on campus.  So I’m dedicating my birthday month to cultivating more admirers of the awesome work happening at Bonton Farms and in community gardens everywhere.   

My student, James, spending some time on the farm.

You can never go wrong with a Friends reference…

Listen, I acknowledge that this initiative is also slightly selfish in nature.  I mean, aren’t most all things philanthropically-focused?  There was an entire episode of Friends, cleverly titled “The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS,” dedicated to Phoebe’s pursuit of an entirely selfless act (1998 spoiler alert: She loses the bet.). Regardless of the obviously shameless and transparent self-promotion, I hope you’ll consider taking a minute to explore the great work of Bonton Farms or the community garden in your area.  If you have more time and you’re a local, stop by the Bonton Market or spend a Saturday helping out around the farm.  Whatever you choose to do, I’m grateful you took the time to read this post.    

Graffit in Bonton. garden farm signs
Signs of Hope at Boston Farms

Giving Beyond the Angel Tree

Well folks, it’s officially December, and we’re on the fast track through the holiday season and into the new year.  I have recently made the case for the benefits of simply giving money to charity (more on that here), and I maintain that remains an effective and efficient way to help your community during the holidays.  But sometimes you want to make a more tangible impact.  And typically, that impact during the holidays comes with ‘adopting’ and shopping for those in need. Christmas is a time for gratitude and perspective on the richness of our lives, and it’s humbling to think of those struggling with making their kids’ wishes come true or, more profoundly, enjoying their holiday meal in the comfort of a warm home.

Our community abounds with charitable service and support opportunities.  And let’s be clear – there’s no ambiguity about the chicken or the egg here – we can help because needs exist.  Profound needs for everyone from our eldest citizens, to veterans, to kids.  More than half of Dallas households make less than $50,000 a year, and our poverty rate remains one of the highest in the country. So it’s hard to avoid a Salvation Army Red Kettle bell ringer or a ‘checkout charity’ campaign during the holiday shopping season, and many of us choose to give in those ways.  As a matter of fact, the Red Kettle program alone raises almost $150 million for the Salvation Army each year (we’re going to need a bigger kettle…).  The Salvation Army’s holiday fundraising game is solid.  These days you will likely stumble across – you guessed it – a Salvation Army Angel Tree almost as frequently as a bell ringer, and we’re all tempted to stop and take a tag. 

Many organizations have attempted imitation, but most are merely celestial shrubs when compared to the Salvation Army Angel Tree.  There are Angel Trees in most malls in North Texas, making adoption and shopping easy as pumpkin pie.  This year the Salvation Army Angel Tree program will serve more than 45,000 kids in our community thanks to the generosity of North Texans.  So yes – the Salvation Army Angel Tree program is accessible and convenient and popular.  And it makes a tremendous community impact.  But I would encourage you to think beyond the angel tree and consider investing in lesser-known holiday programs this year.  

Some others to consider…

  • Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center Holiday of Hope Program – DCAC seeks to improve the lives of abused children in Dallas County and to lead nationwide efforts in child abuse treatment and prevention.  If you know anything about the Notorious D.C.A.C., you know that they are a guiding force in addressing the needs of children who have suffered or been witness to unthinkable abuse.  Each year the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center serves more than 5,000 children in our community; their average client is a 9-year-old girl who has been sexually abused by someone she knows and trusts.  I can’t help but think about the stories of the kids that DCAC serves, especially at Christmas.  The Holiday of Hope Program is one way that we can help bring joy to children who have overcome unimaginable circumstances. What I like about Holiday of Hope is that you get so much insight to the children you’re adopting, and you can adopt entire families.
  • Austin Street Center Apartment Starter Kit – Austin Street Center is an emergency shelter that provides shelter, meals, showers, and other services to homeless men and women in our community.  While not specifically a holiday program, Austin Street’s Start Kit drive provides an opportunity to greatly impact those in need. Austin Street collects Starter Kits (in whole or in part) for clients being placed into permanent or transitional housing.  Think of everything you needed when you moved into your first apartment.  Now, imagine that you’re moving into that apartment from a homeless shelter.
  • Stewpot Holiday Boxes – The Stewpot is a social service agency providing support to Dallas’s homeless population.  The Stewpot offers case management, training, and outreach programs to support the needs of its complex clients. Holiday Boxes contain basic toiletries and other necessities for those experiencing homelessness and provide unique opportunity for seasonal support.  
  • Community Partners of Dallas Toy Drive – If adoption or bundling isn’t your jam, consider contributing to the Community Partners Toy Drive (Who doesn’t love shopping for toys?).  Community Partners serves abused and neglected children served by Dallas County Child Protective Services, and its toy drive grants holiday wishes to more than 7,500 kids every year.  The great thing about the Community Partners drive is that have compiled a great list of popular/trending toys that they’re in need of (gift ideas, anyone?).  
  • Wish Lists, a Partridge, and a Pear Tree – Many nonprofits maintain wish lists on Amazon (holiday and otherwise) making in-kind philanthropic support super convenient.  These are a few of my favorite Dallas nonprofits’ list links, but I’d encourage you to seek out your own.

Regardless of whether you adopt a Holiday of Hope Child or put together a Stewpot Holiday Box or even grab an angel off the tree, I would suggest, nay insist, that you get your kids involved in the effort.  It sometimes takes a minute for our kids to adjust to the idea that we’re in the toy section of Target or perusing the pajamas at Old Navy and not shopping for them. (I try to keep the shopping trips for our charitable endeavors separate from other holiday errands to punctuate the experience.) But they quickly adjust. And I’m always simultaneously surprised and proud at how quickly they take ownership of the process.  They develop a distinct kinship with the people we ‘adopt’ and invest themselves in the stories of strangers.  It is my sincere hope that they grow up to cherish those memories as much as those on Christmas morning.  

I’d love to hear about your favorite holiday giving traditions!  Please take a minute to comment below.   

“For it is in giving that we receive.”  -St. Francis of Assisi

Cash NOT Cans: In Defense of Monetary Support for Food Pantries

Today is the last day of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.  While not necessarily a cause for celebration, it is intended to draw attention to the pervasive issues of hunger and homelessness in our communities.  And its timing is no coincidence.  This is typically that time of year when we begin to fret over holiday preparations — frantically searching for new and interesting recipes on Pinterest, tidying up our guest rooms for family visits, perfecting our napkin folding technique, etcetera ad nauseam.  As we celebrate gratitude and do our best to gain perspective on our relative blessings, we often look for opportunities to help those who are less fortunate.

We happen to live in a community where needs abound.  Despite appearances to the contrary (ahem, Bravo!), Dallas is one of the poorest cities in the country and, not surprisingly, maintains Texas’s lowest median household income ($47,243 as compared to $57,617 national household median). While conditions are improving slightly, more than 30 percent of children in Dallas live in poverty (second highest rate in the country), and one out of every four kids in our community aren’t sure where their next meal will come from.  Food insecurity impacts more than 800,000 people in the North Texas area alone, and, as a result, our hunger relief organizations are busier than ever.

I spend a great deal of personal and professional time interacting with nonprofits that address issues of poverty and hunger, especially during this time of year.  I am constantly in awe of the work that organizations like CitySquare, Austin Street Center, and the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) do each and every day.   Their impact is measured in meals served and sheltered souls; luxuries that I am too often guilty of taking for granted.  So if you, like me, are moved to feed the hungry in an effort of thanks and giving, I’d urge you to put your money where your mouth is.  Literally.

While in-kind donations of food are always welcomed and appreciated at your local food pantry, it’s far more effective and efficient to give a monetary donation.  Food drives give us a tangible sense of our contributions, particularly for kids, and certainly serve a valuable purpose.  But online giving convenience aside, hunger relief organizations, especially large clearinghouses like NTFB, can make our money go farther than it ever would at the local grocery store.  When they say $1 provides access to three nutritious meals, they mean it. Nonprofits benefit from the value of large-scale purchasing and negotiate with wholesale companies for non-perishable food items as well as fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables for their clients (Fresh foods, by the way, are most scarce in poor households.).  When was the last time you ate for $1?

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Once you decide which organization(s) you wish to support, here are some ways to help fight hunger in your community:

A Good Way to Help = Clear your pantry of non-perishable food items or pick up a few extra on your next trip to the grocery store.  Be sure to double-check ‘sell by’ dates because food banks won’t redistribute expired items, and you’ll create extra unnecessary work for the organization’s employees and volunteers.

A Better Way to Help = Check out your organization’s wish list (most food pantries and other service agencies provide a current list on their website) then shop specifically for those items to donate.  This is a better way to support food assistance nonprofits because directed in-kind donations, instead of random canned goods from your pantry (hello, coconut milk and pumpkin puree), help organizations meet the specific nutritional needs of their clients.

THE BEST Way to Help = Skip the store and give a monetary donation. (And finally try out that coconut pumpkin bread recipe.)

“Hunger is not a problem. It is an obscenity. How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

-Anne Frank

Hunger & Poverty Resource Links

Dallas Mayor’s Taskforce on Poverty – 2018 Update
U.S. Census Bureau Poverty Information & 2017 Report
The World Bank – Understanding Global Poverty
North Texas Food Bank Partner Agencies

I’d love to hear from you and the way your family celebrates thanks and giving.

Benevolent Bargains: The Genius of the Family Place Partners Card

Most anyone who knows me knows about my obsession with The Family Place Partners Card. I was an early adopter, a really early adopter. We shopped with our very first Partners Card at Harold’s in Highland Park Village after learning about it from a salesperson there almost 20 years ago. Does anyone still remember Harold’s?  Harold’s was at the center of the preppy printed pant movement that closed out our last millennia and was ultimately responsible for the leather braided belt trend that followed. (You’re welcome.)  So when I say I am a fan of the Partners Card, I really mean it. Here’s the deal – the Partners Card is a discount card you purchase whereby you save twenty percent at major retailers around Dallas. 20% at MAJOR retailers — Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Tumi, The Container Store — the list goes on and on. You get 10 days (including two weekends) to save using the Partners Card.  I research, plan, and strategize weeks in advance of the savings window in my best attempt to maximize the greatness of the discount. As a matter of fact, holiday hiring and shopping starts weeks earlier in North Texas than it does elsewhere because of the retail volume generated during the Partners Card period.  (It’s right around the corner: October 26 – November 4, 2018 for your own planning purposes, by the way.)  But this card is about more than just the savings. It’s about contributing to an organization that does amazing work in our community.

The issue of domestic violence (now commonly referred to as ‘intimate partner violence’ as victims often don’t share a home with their perpetrator) is prevalent across all races, levels of wealth, and most all other socioeconomic indicators.  Domestic violence against men is also rising at a staggering rate. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) reports that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience some form of physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, and it’s far more common in young adult relationships.  This is clearly an issue that pervades our community.  On the brighter side, Dallas is fortunate to have a number of fantastic nonprofit organizations working in support of survivors and their families. The Family Place is unique in the Dallas charitable landscape for several reasons.  First, it’s the only family violence emergency shelter in the community that has a program for men.   Next, because studies indicate that many victims with pets tend to stay in abusive situations for fear of harm to their animals if they leave, The Family Place recently opened a facility with dog kennels, cat towers, and veterinary care to supplement their otherwise human-centered programs.  And finally, they are the purveyors of the Partners Card.

As the story goes, Paige Flink, the current CEO of The Family Place, imported the Partners Card idea from a trip she took to Chicago more than 20 years ago.  She learned of a similar program while shopping there and knew that it would be successful in a community like Dallas.  And the rest… well, you know.  The Partners Card effort is primarily volunteer and represents the vast potential of our community and the commitment of local retailers to the intimate partner violence cause. 100% of the $70 purchase price of the Partners Card goes directly to the Family Place.  Conveniently, $70 also covers the cost of one night of safety for family violence victims at their shelter.  The event is a major fundraiser for the organization as it has raised more than $1 million every year since 2010.  This year the deal is even sweeter because the discount has been extended for online purchases with some retailers.  Needless to say, the Partners Card is a perfect fit for this Creative Charity series because of its uniqueness and, dare I say, genius approach to special event fundraising. For more information on The Family Place or intimate partner violence, visit www.familyplace.org.  You can purchase the Partners Card at participating retailers during the event (unfortunately the online sales window has closed).  Click HERE for a list of retailers and for more information.   Be sure to comment below with your Partners Card shopping tips and stories!

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”
-Coco Chanel

A Scary Good Cause – BOO to You!

Every once in a while, I have a moment when I revel in the genius of fundraisers.  Having been in the ‘business’ for longer than I care to admit, I have grown a little numb to traditional fundraising appeals.  That’s why, when we woke up on October 1 to discover that we had been “BOO-ed” for Children’s, I knew I had to share. The thing that makes this idea so great is that lots of families in our area “BOO” their neighbors and friends already.  My kids take great pleasure in sneaking over to their friends’ houses to deliver an anonymous bucket of Halloween goodies (sneaking is relative here given the advent of doorbell cameras, but you get the idea…), and we wait anxiously for our own mysterious haunting every Halloween.  So to connect BOOing with such a great cause just warms the cockles of my creative-charity-loving heart.

Children’s Health (the parent organization of Children’s Medical Center and its affiliate network) is the gold standard for pediatric healthcare both in the Dallas community and around the country.  Children’s serves more than 298,000 patients every year, and no one is turned away due to financial hardship.  Both of my kids have been treated at Children’s as have several of my other favorite kids in the world, each with their own testimony about the greatness of Children’s. Because Children’s is a special place – a really special place.  And I want to be clear in my bias here – I love Children’s, and we support it in every way we can.

Back to the BOO! (and booze if you’re sipping a potent potable whilst perusing this post), here’s how it works: Now through the end of the month, you can reserve your sign online (click here to check it out) and pick it up from your nearest purveyor of scary signs (conveniently listed by neighborhood and zip code on the order page). The donation per sign is $20, and you deduct the entire ‘cost’ thanks to a generous underwriter.  I spent less than 30 minutes total on the logistics (order time & drive time), and it was well worth it.   Don’t worry, my ghouls – you should still leave a little treat for the boo you BOO, but, with the Children’s program this Halloween, it’s even more meaningful because your donation will also provide special treats for Children’s patients. 2018 marks the first year for Buy a BOO in Dallas, but a similar program raised more than $100,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta last year.  I can’t wait to see the growth and impact of this program on the lives of kids, especially at Halloween.

If “BOO-ing” isn’t your thing (or you’ve come across this post at another time of year), there are many other ways to support Children’s.  There’s National Cape Day in November, the Red Balloon Run & Ride in April, and other opportunities for volunteering and creative charity.  The point is that whether it’s Children’s or another favorite nonprofit, your support is always meaningful and will go a long way towards cultivating care in our communities.  And there’s nothing scary about that!

Also, since you’ve taken the time to read all the way through this post, can I just say that I’ve resisted every urge to inject horrible Halloween puns throughout?  I mean, I know there are a few sprinkled here and there, but I think I have demonstrated tremendous restraint given the subject matter.  So, because #momjokes are their own reward, I present two of my Halloween favorites…

What do you call a vampire that lives in the kitchen?
Count Spatula

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
BOO.
BOO who?
Don’t cry.  It’s only a joke.  Or an amazing way to support Children’s!

Click here to learn more about Children’s Health.  And here to find out about opportunities to support the great work they do for kids.

All Aboard the Charity Train!

As we approach the holiday season, I thought it would be fun to present a few interesting and fun opportunities for charitable support in the Dallas area.  Sure, we can all give cash contributions to our favorite nonprofits and, if we’re feeling crazy, adopt a water buffalo from Heifer International during this season of giving.  And we should, especially the water buffalo part.  But some organizations go to great lengths to devise unique development strategies that provide donors with an unconventional vehicle (pun intended) for support.  The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas’s Trains at Northpark exhibit is one such opportunity.

For more than 30 years the Trains at Northpark exhibit has been a mainstay for North Texas families. Visiting the holiday trains has always been a tradition for my family, and it was years before I realized that Trains was a Ronald McDonald House of Dallas fundraising event.  It’s easy to get swept into the amazingly detailed scenery and holiday chaos of the space and forget that the work is done in support of an amazing local nonprofit providing a much-needed service to kids and their families.

The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas provides families with a home away from home.  Their 62,000 square foot facility includes nearly 60 rooms and transplant apartments where patients and their families can live, play, and relax while undergoing medical treatment at one of Dallas’s elite pediatric medical facilities.  The staff and volunteers at RHMD are extremely dedicated to the experience they provide clients, and the House is warm and inviting for kids and their grownups.  Shiloh, the precious House therapy dog and Chief Cheer Officer, is a personal friend of mine and often visits my classes.  (www.rmhdallas.org for more information)

The Trains at Northpark exhibit has raised over $13 million for RHMD, and it raised (net) more than $300,000 last year alone.  The event is a tremendous undertaking for the organization as it requires coordination of artists, engineers, and volunteers during an otherwise very active season.  The cost of the custom locomotives varies with the entry-level train car starting at $175.  So, for a relatively small gift amount, you get to support a deserving organization and you get an awesome, display-worthy memento to show for it.

The best thing is that you can direct the artists to paint whatever messages or images you want on the cars.  And they’re beyond talented.  I’ve seen cars with Disney characters, elaborate holiday images, and intricate logos so you can be creative with your design and vision (they have started limiting the number of alphanumeric characters though, so no crazy, long messages allowed).  Many local businesses purchase trains for display and some even send them as holiday gifts to clients and customers (maybe we need a Being Bon Mot car next year!). Did someone say corporate philanthropy? A RHMD train also makes a great holiday gift for those impossible-to-buy-for people in your life. We all have one – I know you’re trying not to think of them right now.  And the brilliant thing about getting a train, especially as a gift, is that they make fun decorations in subsequent years.  If you’re really dedicated, you could get an engine and a few cars over a period of time then build an actual train track around your Christmas tree.

If you purchase a train before October 15, it will be ready to ride the rails when the exhibit opens this November.  Seeing our trains at the exhibit is always a holiday highlight for the kids.  If you plan ahead and ask nicely, you can often get the engineers to put your train car on the tracks for your visit.  And soon after the Trains at Northpark close for the season in January, your personalized car magically appears at your house (or other designated address) for safe keeping.  Our RMHD trains always serve as a reminder of our love for holiday traditions and our support for the community.  If you’d like to learn more or order a custom railcar, visit http://www.thetrainsatnorthpark.com.  All aboard!

Obviously these ideas are relatively unhelpful for folks outside of North Texas, but I submit that similar opportunities exist around the country.  I hope that you’ll seek out those opportunities in your community. And when you find them, please share information about what you’ve