During iGet2Give. Hellstern Middle School parent Beth Strickland received the gift that Hellstern student Daniela Campos had been so ardently hoping for.

“I won a gift certificate for a full set of braces and services, from the beginning all the way until the braces are removed. I went straight to the administrators here at Hellstern because I think so much of them and I know they love kids, and my son goes here. I told them to start looking for a deserving child and I began praying that God would lead us to the right person. I would not give them away until God showed me who to give them to.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

There is no way to describe the change I have experienced in my heart from the whole “iget2give” concept…and the REALITY of it. Growing up in the church, I always saw giving through ordinary eyes. I saw it as tradition. Without heart. Without purpose. As an adult, I have now been gifted the ability to see giving for what it truly is, and, more importantly, what it can do!

I did not receive a material gift at the iget2give event, but I did receive a new perspective. This, in itself, is one of the best gifts I have ever received. As the event came to a close, my brain started thinking of giving…throughout the year…every day…practicalities of it all…etc. I certainly don’t have the financiaI means of gifting much or often in the material sense, so I just started praying. Africa kept coming into my head. I’ve never been before. I’ve thought about it here and there over the last few years and actually even prayed about going. Never thought I would/could afford to go…always kept God in my box…I am such a planner, organizer, realist…I limit God entirely way too much. Soon after I began praying, I sat down with my husband because I just knew that Africa was it, but I just didn’t know how. I thought I could tell all our family at Christmas about it and ask them that, in place of any gifts they might get for me over the next year, to give me money to get to Africa. Winding down the discussion and brainstorming, we realized that our faith was enough. He would provide — somehow. It wasn’t 24 hrs. later that we had all our Christmas gatherings, and many presents and conversations were exchanged. I was not far from sharing with everyone how I was going to go to Africa and the whole financial explanation, when we were handed an envelope. In this envelope was a significant cash gift, at least in their minds that is what it was. However, minutes later I got to share with them what their gift actually meant. This envelope was a testament to having a little faith, and it was a sizeable monetary gift that would allow me to share the ULTIMATE GIFT with people who have never heard the good news, His story…of hope…of love…of eternal life.

I have been gifted. Beyond comprehension. Beyond borders.  - Kelsey

This story is actually not my own, but I was blessed to be apart of it.  The ladies in our small group got a table together at iGet2Give.  When filling out the cards for the larger items, there was one item in particular (a matress) that I knew my best friend really needed.  When they drew for it, my name was not called, but another lady at our table was.  God tugged at my heart strings to talk to her.  I caught her before she left and asked if she had a person in mind for that gift.  Her response was that she thought she did, but now was not so sure.  I asked her to pray about giving it to my friend.  A few days later I heard back from her asking for my friend’s address, so she could mail her the certificate.  A few days after that, my best friend calls me in tears.  She said that I would never believe what was in her mail box that morning.  (I had a pretty good idea.)  She told me that she had received the certificate for a matress and how they really needed it.  A few nights before, her youngest child’s bed had broken and the little girl was sleeping on the floor.  Wow!  God’s timing is so perfect.  I am so blessed to know both of these women and to be able to share this story with you.  God bless.-  Sarah

At iGet2Give, I “won” a haircut gift certificate and hair care products. As I started thinking of who I could pass this gift on to, Ithought about women who I have contact with but never really get to know who they are or what their needs are. God brought to mind the ladies who work in the cafeteria of my boys’ schools. I thought of one in particular that I hadn’t seen in a long time, but I remembered her always smiling when we crossed paths. A few days later, I ran an errand with my mom and there was the lady I had pictured in my mind. We introduced ourselves and talked a little bit, I found out she was a single mom putting her oldest through college. I thought here at Christmas time, I’m sure she is doing everything she can for those children. I’d like to do something just for her, so I returned later after she had left for the day and left the haircut and hair care supplies there for someone to give her the next day. I hope she was blessed by it. I love my church! – Laurel

I have been attending Gracepoint for a while now. One of the church members invited me to join her table at Iget2give night. I was given a Picture Frame and Photo Sitting package. Prior to that night,  I had posted some items of my own to sell on Craigslist.  Someone emailed me asking me if I could donate one of the gift basket items I was selling.   She wanted it for her mother this Christmas since she cannot afford to buy her a gift.  When I received the photo package at iget2give, I thought of the lady that wrote me the email.  But when I came home that night, my son’s girlfriend was at my home and I remembered that she is a single mom with 2 children, so I gave her the package and I know that she can use this more for Christmas photo.  I wanted to give so much that the next day I gave  away the 2 gift baskets to a stranger that emailed me. She emailed me and thanked me for the gifts.  The very next day, I got a call for a job interview.  Four days before Christmas, God blessed me with a Job!!!  God also blessed me with loyal and kind friends. They prayed around me during my hardship and they handed me the most precious gift that  I always keep in mind,  the “Footprints in the Sand” card and keychain to carry with me all the time.  God works in his mysterious way, he is not visible in our sight, but he is always on our side.  Everytime there’s trials in my life,  human nature is to be afraid, but I tried to keep in mind the story about Jesus and the apostles in a boat during the stormy night, I always keep in mind what Jesus said, “not to fear, have faith…”
Thank you Gracepoint for bringing the ministry together!

I have a friend who has a daughter who is the same age as my daughter. We met at Dave Peel Park in Bentonville, and found out we live within a half mile of each other. So thus a friendship was formed.

Her husband has seasonal work, and she is a mom/photographer/seamstress/painter…basically she does whatever she can from home to earn extra money with a flexible schedule. Needless to say, she and her husband (from my perspective) are amazing stewards of what God has given them. She is incredibly thrifty and creative. They even decided to buy a duplex instead of a single family home in order to offset their mortgage.

Well, on facebook the other day…I saw her status said that she was praying for God’s provision, guidance, wisdom…  Well, this made me start thinking about the gift I received at iGet2Give…a $25 gas card, and a door mirror.  The gas card is a no-brainer…anyone would enjoy and use that but the door mirror is different. So when I called and asked if I could stop by, I explained to her what I was giving her, and why, and she said she actually didn’t have a full-length mirror in her house so it was an “extra” for her. And also, the tenant next door had been struggling to pay rent regularly so her “extra” earnings had covered that payment instead of the Christmas things she had planned to use it for.

The gift was not big enough to cover the mortgage, but I think she knew immediately God will provide in His way and His time. – Jill

I already shared the story of how I gave my bracelet away…I am still praying for that lady and maybe someday I will read her story on here too.

That Monday night I “won” a gift basket of cleaning supplies. As many of us thought with these sorts of gifts “I don’t want to offend someone with this gift”. Luckily, I say, I already knew who to give this gift to.

A few months ago, a friend from FBCS held a ‘free garage sale’. She collected clothing. toys, books, and school supplies for a couple of weeks prior to the event. I showed the day of the ’sale’ to help. I was blessed that day, maybe more than the people who were in need of school supplies and clothing. That day I met “Lucy”. She was a very sweet Hispanic lady with a 2 month old baby girl and a 6 year old son. She spoke some English but not much, so her son helped me talk to her. She came that day to get some nice church clothes, some school supplies for her son and some weather appropriate clothing for both of her children. She stayed as her son read a book to me. He reads VERY well! My heart opened up to her and her family. She was more thankful than I think I have ever been. She was gracious in her heart and through her eyes. That day I got “Lucy’s” phone number as I wanted to take her my daughters old car seat. (Lucy was still using the blue one she used for her son 6 years ago). It was safe and that was all she cared about. I wanted to give her a ‘pretty’ one for her baby girl and her heart was so thankful. See, when there is a language barrier, the eyes and face have to talk. “Lucy” showed me through her eyes and face so many things that I needed to do/be.

So, I got in touch with “Lucy” after iGet2Give to ask if I could bring her some things. When I said “This is Annie”, her voice was excited. We weren’t able to “talk” but I was able to find out her daughter is now in 6 months clothes and get her address again.

Yesterday I went to her house, took her the cleaning supply basket and some clothes for her baby girl. As I was leaving she gave me a hug and a kiss and said thank you and handed me a card. The card was a Christmas card and said “Annie & Family – God bless you and your family”. My heart melted. God has blessed me through giving.

iGet2Give reminded me of “Lucy” and put my heart back on the giving track. Thank you! – Annie

When I attended the event and won a basket of hygiene items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, and four sets of towels, my first thought was, “How do I give this away?” I actually drove around with the basket in my car for some time, hoping I would come into a situation with someone who had a need. I thought of walking up to someone and just giving it to them, but I thought it might seem rude to imply that they needed hygiene items!  So, I listed a free ad on it on Craigslist! I described the basket and its contents, and I asked anyone who could really use it to email me their situation. Within a few hours, I had over 30 emails from people who really needed towels and toothpaste! Their stories were heartwrenching, and my family read each one. We selected the first family to respond. She said her husband has been out of work, and they had two young boys. She had been getting toothpaste samples off websites. I added some “kid” hygiene items to the basket and also bought toys for each of her children and wrapped them up as an extra surprise. I got to present it all to her personally, and it was such as blessing! – Michelle

Well, I “won” a big couch at iGet2Give.  I had someone in mind who I knew was on a very tight budget, but I was not sure if they wanted it.  I contacted this person and sent a photo of the couch… and then prayed as I waited that God would put the couch where He wanted to bless someone.  As I was waiting, God put another someone on my heart.  I have a couple who comes to my house to clean once a month.  They work so hard.  The cleaning is a side business, as they both also work for Wal-mart.  Besides all of that, they are paying for their daughter’s community college tuition (with the extra money they earn cleaning), as well as babysitting their grandchildren, while she is in classes or studying.  The first someone I was going to give  the couch to, ended up not working out.  I was actually excited, because God had put on my heart to give the couch and chair to this other couple.  I called them and then sent them a photo.  The wife was excited.  UNknown to me but to KNOWN to God….this couple had been talking about needing and wanting a big couch!
My husband and a friend took the couch to them last weekend. I was blessed knowing that God wanted to bless this couple, and ‘iGot2Give’ His love to them.  We serve a big God who knows everything…including who wants a big couch.
~Susan

Before iGet2Give I was actually hoping not to get a gift.  I am not one to know people who are generally in need and I am not the most creative with coming up with ideas about how to help others other than giving to food pantries and donating old clothes to the Salvation Army.

Sometimes God has other plans….I “won” a gift.  It was a simple gift of a gift certificate to World’s Gym, a couple of T-Shirts, and a Bagel Bucket from Einstein Bagels.  When I received the gift I worried about what I was going to do with these two things that don’t really go together.  After much thought, I decided to split up the gift.

Last night I decided today (Wednesday) was the day to go bless others.  I set the alarm for 5:15 and closed my eyes hoping I wouldn’t over sleep.  I guess I was so excited I kept waking myself up and I actually had to calm my self down a couple of times just so I could go back to sleep.

At 5:14 I woke up, turned off the alarm that hadn’t even gone off yet and got up to get ready.  At 6:30 I set off on my adventure.  My first stop would be the World’s Gym that is 1 minute from my house.  I walked in and was greeted by the guy at the counter.  After I explained my “surprise” I think he was a little perplexed.  I am still not sure he understood what I wanted him to do or who I wanted him to give the present to but I am praying that whoever the gift certificate and T-shirts go to it will completely make their day.

Now for the bagels.  I knew the moment I got the bagels I wanted to bless some teachers at a school.  I wasn’t sure what school but I know teachers are really stressed out this time of year and a bagel or donut really does go a long way in making a teachers day.  First stop was Krispy Kreme Donuts for a couple of dozen donuts and then on to Einstein Bagel’s.  After I picked up my donuts and bagels I decided on going to Central Park Elementary.  It is the closest school to my house and I thought I should bless the teachers who serve so many around me.

After getting to the school, finding the office and stopping a teacher who was walking through, I set up the donuts and bagels in the teachers lounge.  I pray that they lift their day and fill their bellies as well as their spirits.

I have learned a lot from this experience.  We all can and should do more to make someone’s day.  It might be simple like a donut or bagel or it could be more complex that is more time consuming.  Whatever it is, giving more is truly getting more    .- Kristen