I got an email recently in response to last week's column about family Christmas traditions.

You may remember Brenda Aubin telling us about a tradition her family had when she was a child - Each week her parents would give the kids 50 cents allowance and each of them would drop 10 cents of that into a special "Christmas Box" while their parents added $5. The money was used the next year to prepare a Christmas hamper for a needy family.

I asked readers to tell me about any special Christmas traditions they have and Cathy Williams responded.

Soon after Cathy and Steve married, they began to prepare Christmas hampers for needy families ... and they still do. They get the names and descriptions of families in need from their employees at Pacifica Concepts, prepare their hampers and then leave them on the families' doorsteps, ring the bell and disappear.

"It's a lot of fun," Cathy smiled as she remembered those special Christmas moments. "We always try to get there before the kids go to bed and it is wonderful to see their little faces light up when they see the basket full of treats."

When Cathy and Steve's daughter, Allyx, was three years old, she's now 7, she got into the act too. When Cathy explained why they were preparing the baskets, Allyx went to her piggy bank and got out some change to add to each one. She's been helping less fortunate kids ever since.

Allyx now has four piggy banks; one for saving, one for spending on herself, one for spending on others and one for "the hungry kids" as she calls it.

As she was counting and rolling her change for "the hungry kids" last year, Allyx had a great idea. She decided to challenge other family members to match her efforts. This year, with help from two others, she raised over $80. Her goal for next year is $100.

"Ever since she was 3 years old, she's learned to have compassion for others, to appreciate what she has, and to share," Cathy told me proudly. "Like Allyx always says, if every kid started a piggy bank for 'the hungry kids', lots of needy kids would get presents and other treats at Christmas ... treats they wouldn't get otherwise."

Allyx buys present for her friends and family out of her third piggy bank, the one for "spending on others". On special occasions, she also uses some of that money on the "Daddy, Daughter Dates" she has with Steve - Another great idea.

Like many parents, Steve is very busy and often doesn't get home from work until Allyx has gone to bed. So they started having their special dates a few years ago. It's a time for bonding.

Last father's day for example, Allyx took money from her third piggy bank and treated her dad to breakfast at McDonalds. They also take motorbike rides into the mountains, go to movies, take a one-week annual vacation with family in the interior, that sort of thing ... and mommy isn't allowed on these dates.

Getting back to their Christmas traditions, Cathy concluded, "When I think of the smile I see on her face the day she prepares her donation, I don't know who benefits most from her yearly task, 'the needy kids', us, as her proud parents, or Allyx herself."

These are two more great ideas for family traditions. If you have others -- not necessarily connected to Christmas -- please let me know at bill@nhero.org. It's ideas like these that build strong families and, as we all know, families are the foundation of our neighbourhoods and our nation.

To read a column written about Allex' parents go to www.nhero.org, "Stories", "Business" and see "Pacifica Concepts".