USCIS 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
uscitizenpod: Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a secular holiday that is traditionally celebrated on December 26, the day after Christmas Day in England and its former colonies. December 26 is also the feast day of St. Stephen who collected food and clothing and gave them to the poor. On Boxing Day, workers would received boxes of food and small gifts from their employers. Frequently, there were used clothing or blankets in the boxes.
Recently, Boxing Day has gained popularity in America. Many families "box up" unused clothes, electronics, and furniture and donate them to charitable organizations such as Goodwill.
Goodwill was started in 1902 by the Reverend Edgar J. Helms of Morgan Methodist Chapel in Boston. Helms and his congregation collected used household goods and clothing being discarded in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired the unemployed or poor to repair them. The products were then redistributed to those in need.
Today, Goodwill has become an international nonprofit that is funded by thrift stores and provides more than 300,000 people with job training and community services each year. Goodwill also offers free online job skills and technology courses--learn more at gcflearnfree.org
In the spirit of Boxing Day, we encourage you to donate your unused goods or volunteer with your local civic or community groups.
Boxing Day Resources
More organizations in San Jose/Milpitas that accept household goods donations and need volunteers--check your local area for similar organizations!
- EnglishClass101: Boxing Day
- ESL Holiday Lessons: Boxing Day
- ESL Library: Boxing Day
More organizations in San Jose/Milpitas that accept household goods donations and need volunteers--check your local area for similar organizations!
- American Cancer Society Discovery Shop
- Habitat for Humanity
- Hope Services
- Humane Society
- Resource Area For Teaching: RAFT
- Sacred Heart Community Service
- Salvation Army
- Second Harvest Food Bank
- Santa Clara County Library District
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