Lourd has learned a great deal about grief and has openly discussed the grieving process on social media and in interviews.
Lourd's mother was Carrie Fisher, and her grandmother was Debbie Reynolds. Both icons passed away in December 2016. Carrie Fisher suffered from a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles and passed away from complications on December 27, 2016. The very next day, Debbie Reynolds passed away after suffering from a stroke. The women were 60 and 84.
Losing her mother and grandmother so suddenly after Christmas took a major toll on Lourd. Since then, she's learned to look at holidays and birthdays as a way to celebrate the loved ones we've lost, and to do things on those celebratory days to keep them close, like play songs they loved or cook one of their favorite dishes.
Lourd also always takes the opportunity to reach out to her fans, as well as fans of Fisher and Reynolds who now follow her by association, over the holidays to remind them they are not alone in their grief, and they shouldn't be afraid to wear it on their sleeves.
On Christmas Day, 2019, Lourd posted on Instagram:
"Happy holidays! (But also sad/emotional/weird/stressful holidays!) Sending my love to everyone who has lost someone they loved and is missing them a little extra today."
"I see you. It's okay if everything ain't all merry and bright. It can be a mix of all of it. And it's all okay."
"Feel all the feelings - the good and the not so good. Eat something delish they used to love. Put on one of their favorite songs. Tell a story about them."
"Cry about them. Call one of their friends you haven't talked to in a while. Be kind and patient with yourself. Don't grieve in silence. You're not alone."
This is a beautiful, recurring tribute that Lourd offers to her loved ones that her fans enjoy, identify with and take solace in.
Fans and friends were commenting with their thanks for Lourd's kind words, wishing her a Merry Christmas and sharing their certainty that Fisher and Reynolds are proud of her.
@praisethelourd / Instagram
@praisethelourd / Instagram
@praisethelourd / Instagram
@praisethelourd / Instagram
@praisethelourd / Instagram
@praisethelourd / Instagram
The holidays certainly can be a difficult time when we remember the loved ones who are not in our lives anymore.
But as Billie Lourd reminds us, there are ways of taking that grief and turning it into something that's a little bit beautiful.
The book It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand is available here.
It feels especially good when they appreciate a gift that you thought out and put effort in. Some spend months, if not the whole year, studying and paying attention to their loved ones to ensure that they'll get them the perfect present for the holidays
The only down side of getting someone the perfect gift is having to wait for them to open it. Redditor u/mbowsy gave people the chance to blab about the gift they're most excited to give when they asked, "What awesome holiday gift did you get someone that you can't tell them about yet but want to brag about?"
20. They're going to flush this gift down the toilet, in the best way
"The gift is less awesome than the delivery. My housemate hates a dirty toilet bowl, but we're both loath to maintain it, and I saw an ad for the FluidMaster Flush'n'Sparkle that allegedly works better than the tank tabs.
I am just looking forward to being able to say 'Merry Christmas, there's a present from me in the toilet'."
19. I love the mystery that comes with this gift
"I wrapped a couple pieces of legos with instructions and a special note for everyday I'm gone this holiday break. My boyfriend gets to opens them and in the end he'll have a lego space station (he's a NASA/SpaceX geek). He is texting me once a day guessing what it is."
18. What a beautiful way to remember a loved one
"My uncle died a few years ago (multiple tumors he survived over the years) This year while visiting my aunt she gave me his old paint and everything he used, so I could use them (she doesn't paint). I made an acrylic painting for my aunt to gift her as a small remembrance of my uncle, who loved to paint, before he couldn't anymore"
17. My family received one of these, it's lovely
"My favorite old manager had a dog that got him through some really rough times. When the dog passed it was really rough for him and he still tears up talking about her. I got him one of the stuffed look a-likes that is created my hand using pictures that I provided. I'm so excited to give him a piece of her to live with forever."
16. I think he'll be thrilled
Giphy"A long time ago my friend made up a melody on the piano and I wrote it into an actual song with sheet music. He'll either be thrilled or super offended, but I'm proud of it either way."
15. Charity is the best part of the holidays
"A switch lite for a first nations family I've never met.
I caught word that this 14 year old boy had his birthday was in November and he hasn't gotten a present in 2 years... well this Christmas hes getting a switch lite and 4 games."
14. This best friend won't be disappointed
"My best friend has been going through some personal things. She has tried to see Def Leopard as long as I can remember and never has managed it. I bought us tickets to go see them ( we attend a lot of concerts together). She was really upset when their tickets went on sale that she wouldn't be able to go."
13. I guess this gift receiver really loves them
"Custom Van shoes with my face on the front of them.
She's gonna freak."
12. A gift to make more gifts
"Last year for Christmas I wanted a sewing machine so I could learn how to quilt. My mom and two brothers got me a beautiful sewing machine together. This year they are all getting quilts done on the same machine they bought me."
11. Gift cards for tattoo parlors are one of my favorite gifts to get
"I got my BFF a gift certificate to get a tattoo! She's expressed wanting one fairly often in the past but has never actually gotten around to getting one, so I'm excited to give her the opportunity to finally get a tattoo!"
10. The most thoughtful stockings ever
"My fiancé's grandma makes these really labor intensive stockings whenever someone enters the family (birth/marriage), and she just finished mine after a year of working on it. No one in the nearly 40 years that she has been making these has ever made her one, so she's the only one in the family who doesn't have one. She has no clue that while she's been making mine, I've been making one for her for Christmas this year!"
9. Combining naughty cats and puzzles is perfect
"My nan loves doing jigsaw puzzles and my nan's cat loves ruining said puzzles by pulling them off the table and generally being a nuisance. I took a picture of her cat laying on a puzzle she was doing a little while ago and had a puzzle made of that picture!"
8. This beautiful surprise brought tears to my eyes
"I have a baby grand piano being delivered on the 23rd for my wife. She has wanted one since we have been married (7 years) and I have said 'someday' for a while. She has been taking lessons again (since childhood) for 1.5 years and is getting good.
I 'hid' funds for a couple months to pay for it and had to take a day off work to go look at one 100 miles away.
Also, she is picking up her Mom and brother from the airport the day of delivery so it'll be in our living room as a surprise when she gets back. She's going to a party tonight so I'm going to wrap some decoy presents and place them under the tree.
She's 7 months pregnant with our first child so I wanted to blow it out this year."
7. I think their grandpa will adore this
"My grandpa has dementia. Prior to that time, he was really into geneaology (it's something his own father was into as well). I got him a family tree sculpture that has small photo frames, and I've gone through old family photos and had the best ones professionally printed, and I've put them into this sculpture. It goes as far back as to the first photos that his father took with their first camera. So not only are there photos of the whole family, but you get to see how technology has improved over time too. He may not remember what he said five minutes ago, but he loves to talk about the past and I really hope he loves this gift."
6. A best gift for the biggest fan of "The Office"
Giphy"My brother loves the office but is upset that its leaving hulu. So I got the complete series for him and got it signed by Steve Carrell"
5. Their love was written in the stars
"I bought my parents a star chart of the night they were married. They were 17 and told they could never make it and over 35 years later they still love each other so much and I wanted to commemorate that day for them"
4. I'm so excited for this lucky mom
"My moms coming from the west coast to visit me in Vermont for the first time. What she doesn't know is that I'm meeting her at the airport and we're going to Ireland, which is her bucket list destination."
3. This will be no ordinary book
"My dad is obsessed with Stephen King, and every year I buy him a book but this year he basically has all of them. So I sat down and wrote him a horror novel myself (I'm a writer) but he has no idea and I sent it off and got it printed with a hard cover and everything. I'm so excited"
2. Technology is amazing
"My father was in WWII Bomber Command, flying in a Lancaster. He was a rear gunner.
We have a photo of our father with his squadron on the tarmac (I assume at Fiskerton) under one of those mighty machines. The photo is terrible: dark, hardly able to make out any of the figures, let alone our father. Its value was in the nose art, which you can see - not clearly but you can make it out.
I took the photo to a restorer who has absolutely make this come alive. You can see all those young faces, gestures, uniforms, for the first time.
I've had copies printed and framed and giving one each to my brother and sister (Dad unfortunately passed in 2014). I think my siblings are going to be pretty amazed to see his squadron for the first time."
1. This is an incredibly generous and life changing gift
"Lately, I have been planning to pay for my neighbor's son's college tuition. To put in words, they aren't financially well. The boy had been studying on scholarships and loans. The boy is a good kid but missed his scholarship due to some health issues, so he had to drop this year. I would be breaking this to him this Christmas. Can't wait to see his face. :)"
What gift are you most excited to give this year?
Ready & Go....
GiphyJust volunteered last week! One item they needed more of was things ready to eat right out of the package because they send those to the schools for lunch assistance programs. I mean you could hand a kid a box of dry macaroni, but they'd have no way to cook it there. BellerophonSkydiving
In order of preference....
In order of preference;
- Cash, since the buying power of the foodbank is greater than what you can give. Sometimes by a factor of 2-3.
- Hygiene Items. Depending on what your regional food bank is, many of the regional ones only have food, so any type of hygiene items (especially feminine products) is a huge help.
- Paper and cleaning products (soap, laundry detergent). These are not often considered necessary items, but not having to pay for them frees up a lot of money for someone who is having a hard time.
- Your time. Most foodbanks have dedicated volunteers who are familiar with the processes and the people going to the food bank. If you are going to go once, do what you are told and otherwise keep out of the way. Becoming a regular volunteer is better. laztheinfamous
Family-size.....
I volunteer to food banks that also donate essential things.
That we always need : Pads and tampons. We always lack those. And Diapers. Both for babies, and for older people. Also cleaning products. If they have a home, they need things to clean it, if only to feel better in it.
When it comes to food what we often lack is things that can be eaten cold or don't need preparation. Too many people live in their cars or in the street. They don't have access to pans, stove, microwaves, anything you'd find in a kitchen really.
We could also do with more things for single people. Family-size is great for families. But for people who are alone, it means that once open it will either go to waste or more likely have someone eat something that had gone bad.
We do still need the usual food, family-size things etc etc. But we ran out of what I have listed more often than other stuff. Marawal
Coin.
Cash. They can get items for cheaper than consumers.
I worked in a combo food shelf/home goods shelf and underwear, socks, and hygiene items like deodorant were very popular. Also, pet food! tomtenisse1
Year Round.
GiphyNot exactly what OP was asking but I was a frequent volunteer at food banks. They would always tell us that whatever we donate, remember to donate during the spring and summer.
Hunger still continues beyond the holiday season. Truegold43
Fur Babies in Need.
I could've used donated pet food a time or two. I've used food banks and gone to churches when they give out food. Saved my butt a few times.
I don't know about anyone else, but I've gotten donated people food for my animals. Just about any kind of plain meat, canned, fresh, or frozen, will feed a pet in a pinch. One place always gave out these big cans of cooked pork and beef. My people family was not fond of those meats, but my pets loved them.
I'd rinse the meat cuz it was salty af and dole it out. Wasn't the best choice (dogs and cats need more than just muscle meat) but hey, they didn't starve.
I'd ask and see if a food bank would take it. Or give them cash and maybe ask if they'd consider buying pet supplies. FelisHorriblis
Expirations.
People have already given sufficient responses on what to give, but I just need to ask everybody to please check the dates on the stuff you're giving us. Last week I found spaghetti sauce that expired on January 7th, 2010. It's just a nuisance to give us stuff we can't use. TheProfessorOfPi
Many Things...
I've run a food pantry for 5 years.
- Cash is king. Depending on the state your food pantry is located, they can get staple items relatively cheaply. When ordering for our pantry, we can get staple items incredibly cheap or even for free.
- Feminine hygiene products. Tampons, pads. Anything needed like that is incredibly important.
- Other cooking supplies. Butter. Olive oil. Flour. Folks that use pantries cook but don't always have these items. They're important, basic cooking tools. PezDOY
Closest Shopping Abilities.
I am the co-director of a volunteer-run food & hygiene pantry. We can't accept cash/checks ourselves and the organization that handles monetary donations for us has a lot of hoops they like to put us through to use funds. That being said, if someone wants to do some sort of monetary donation, we always say Walmart Gift Cards. It's the closest major store and has everything we need.
For actual items, we generally accept anything non-perishable, unopened, and within expiration (or at least not too expired since we have a guide that tells us how long different food items are still good for past the printed date). sweetxsunflower
I'm not a food bank worker but have been a recipient.
GiphyI'm not a food bank worker but have been a recipient. The problem I would have was that I would receive dry pasta but no sauce. Or Mac n cheese but would not have the milk or butter at home to make it. I would suggest that if Mac n cheese is donated, the kind with the squeeze cheese would be better. People don't always have the items needed to make a full meal with some of the items that are donated. Another thing we rarely received was canned fruit. Since perishables were rarely donated, canned fruit was a great treat to receive. JAMM_412