The Christmas Gift Idea

As a teenager, Christmas was filled with visits to and from family, most of whom we saw only a few times a year.  While grateful to have family that cared, something about exchanging gifts seemed wasteful.  Soon after that observation, an idea was born.  I would write a letter to each family member, requesting that instead of bringing a present, they donate money to a charity.  That letter was never written.

In 2018, a variation of that idea resurfaced, and I created a ‘Gift fund for animals’, for our Aunt Lynn and Uncle Dick in New York.  A year later Lynn emailed and said it was a wonderful idea, but they never did anything with it.  She asked me to take over the idea and donate to an animal rescue group of my choice.

And that brings us to the present moment, and a long over-due letter …

Dear Friends & Family,

Thank you for your generosity, during both Holidays and the rest of the year.  From now on, when Christmas comes our way, instead of buying a present, will you please redirect your generosity to an animal rescue group?

If you are unsure which charity is best, you can donate to our “Merry Christmas Animals” gift fund, and my Better-Half will see to it that all money goes to a good cause for animals.

Respectfully,

Greg & Cindy Mattingly

My Better Half

Have you ever met someone you thought loves animals more than people?  Then meet my wife, Cindy.  She is by far the sweetest, most kind-hearted women I’ve ever met (just don’t make her mad).  When she yells, “Can you get that spider!?”, what she really means is, “Can you safely put him on a paper towel, and take him outside?”

We currently live with 2 rescue cats (Ash & Oliver), an outdoor neiborhood cat (Johnny), and I’m pretty sure a dog is in our near future.