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Very few things in life are free or come without strings attached. Your neighbors will welcome the beauty of spring on May Day with a homemade basket filled with spring flowers and sweet treats.

Cut a triangle shape out of brightly colored construction paper. Make the point flat and the long edge rounded. Roll the triangle into a cone, and glue or tape the two sides together. Make a handle by stapling or taping a 12-inch strip of construction paper or ribbon to opposite sides of the top of the cone basket. Fill your cone basket with real or homemade flowers and candy.

Helpful hint: Homemade crafts not your thing? Buy straw or plastic baskets from the dollar store, and fill them with homemade cookies or muffins. Unlike the cone basket, a store-bought basket will also be able to sit on a porch for your neighbors who don’t have doorknobs to hang things from.

After you’ve made the baskets and filled them, hang them on your neighbors’ doors and get away without being noticed. Note: Many people nowadays rarely use their front doors and enter their homes through the garage. So be sure to have the basket deliverer ring the doorbell when the basket is hung. Be waiting in your car for the basket deliverer’s quick getaway.

Instant Intentions

Say a short prayer, asking God to show you who to bless with the May Day baskets. Use this opportunity to talk to your neighbors (if they discover you’re the giver) about gifts; discuss the best gift you’ve ever received or given. If appropriate, share about the gift of forgiveness you’ve received from God.

From the book, Field Guide to Neighborhood Outreach by Group Publishing, 2007.

Note: This is a great project to do with kids – have your children or grandchildren (maybe also some of the neighbor children) help you bake the goodies, make construction-paper flowers, make the baskets, etc. What a wonderful way to have fun and show the next generation a practical way to live out your faith and care for others without expecting anything in return. Another idea – include a religious pamphlet or information about Immanuel with the basket.  – Lisa Jaeger