Listen to this article
A Christmas giving challenge of compassion inspired by Salvation Army Founder William Booth
To the Booth children, it probably seemed like the year their dad, William Booth, “ruined” Christmas.
It was 1868—and before then, Christmas in the Booth home no doubt looked much as it did in other Victorian households: warm and joyful with hymns and Scripture, laughter and games.
Meanwhile, London’s East End told a different story: poverty pressed in on every side, addiction stole what little families had, and children scavenged for food and warmth in places no child should have to go.
That Christmas morning, after walking eight miles to conduct a service in Whitechapel, Booth saw suffering that would not leave him. When he returned home, he gathered his family and made a declaration that would change the course of their lives: “I’ll never spend another Christmas like this again. The poor have nothing but the public house.”
In one sense, their Christmas was “ruined.” With familiar comforts set aside, the holiday became work, sacrifice and service.
In another sense, something far richer was born.
From that day on, the Booths spent Christmas feeding, clothing and caring for those who had nothing at all. What began as one father’s decision to give up his own holiday became, over time, a tradition that has saved Christmas for countless families through The Salvation Army’s work around the world.
This 12-day Christmas giving challenge—each day introduced by a William Booth quote—invites us into that same spirit. Not by losing joy, but by letting it spill over into practical love. Small acts, offered with sincerity, can transform not only someone else’s holiday but our own hearts as well.
Day 1: Donate something that warms hearts—practical Christmas giving
“While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight.”
Consider giving gloves, scarves, hats, blankets, or assembling a care package for someone who needs warmth and encouragement.
Day 2: Send an encouraging note—kind words as care
“Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity.”
Even more than a text message, a handwritten note or card can meet someone in loneliness or discouragement. Listening can begin even on paper.
Day 3: Share a meal—nourishment as love
“We will feed them…our business is to help them all the same.”
Invite someone to dinner, deliver a meal or support a local community kitchen. Food is one of the oldest languages of love.
Day 4: Offer a listening ear—presence matters
“Rescue the perishing, care for the dying.”
Reach out to someone overwhelmed or alone. Sometimes presence is the greatest generosity.
Day 5: Spark joy in your community—scatter light
“If I could win one more soul…by walking on my head, I would do it.”
Look for simple ways to brighten the world around you—leave a small gift anonymously, shovel snow from a neighbor’s walkway, decorate a shared space, or surprise someone with an unexpected act of kindness. Joy can ripple outward.
Day 6: Serve those in greatest need—following Booth’s example
“Go straight for souls, and go for the worst.”
Volunteer with outreach programs or donate to ministries serving people often overlooked. This is Booth’s heartbeat in practice.
Day 7: Clean out and give—generosity in practice
“God shall have all there is of William Booth.”
Sort through belongings and donate gently used items. When you donate to a Salvation Army thrift store, your gift also supports its Adult Rehabilitation Centers, helping men and women rebuild their lives.
Day 8: Share a story of hope—encourage others
“We are a salvation people.”
Tell or share a story of kindness, resilience or generosity—online or in person. Hope grows when it is spoken aloud.
Day 9: Give your skills—service as stewardship
“The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.”
Offer your time, talent or training to someone who could benefit. When skill becomes service, it becomes worship.
Day 10: Celebrate local workers—thankful hearts
“Do something! Do something! Do something!”
Thank a volunteer, neighbor or service worker. A word of appreciation can encourage continued kindness.
Day 11: Engage children in giving—teach what matters
“You cannot warm the hearts of people with God’s love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet.”
Invite children into generosity—donating toys, helping prepare care packages, or joining you in simple acts of service like ringing the bell at a Salvation Army red kettle. When kids learn that love is something we do, the impact lasts for life.
Day 12: Pray and reflect—rest in meaning
“Work as if everything depended upon your work, and pray as if everything depended upon your prayer.”
Pray for those in need, for those who serve, and for growth in love. Notice how even small acts can shape you as much as they bless others.
The Booth children may well have felt the loss of their traditional holiday celebration. What they gained, though, was something deeper: a Christmas lived outward instead of inward, wrapped not in presents but in purpose.
Since then, countless families have had their Christmas saved because The Salvation Army has continued that tradition—meals on tables, gifts under trees, warmth in the cold, dignity where it has been forgotten, hope where it has been scarce.
These 12 days are an invitation to take part in that legacy—to step beyond comfort, to notice those who struggle, to let compassion interrupt us in a meaningful way—because sometimes a slightly “ruined” Christmas is exactly what saves someone else’s.
These simple acts honor the spirit William Booth discovered on that cold London morning, and help us find, as he did, that love becomes real only when it works.
Do Good:
- Join us in giving joy to families who are experiencing poverty, hunger, job loss and more. Your generosity offers joyful reassurance that even during our most challenging times, we are not alone.
Download this page as a PDF
