There isn’t a better time to give back than during the holiday season. For every family that is curled up around a warm fireplace with a pile of presents under their Christmas tree, there are others around the world who have no fire, no gifts, and sometimes, no home at all. Fortunately, we can all do our part to help. If you’re wondering how you can give back this holiday season, there are many charities that you can donate to!
1) Toy for Tots
Take your family to go gift shopping for a less fortunate child. Purchase a new toy and take it to a U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots drop-off location. Members of the U.S. Marine Corps will distribute the toys to children in the community.
2) Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child is a Christian charity that takes shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, clothes, and a personal note. Pick a child’s age group that you would like to donate to, and fill the box with items corresponding to that age group. If you choose to donate online, you will have access to track your box’s journey to its final destination.
3) Make-A-Wish Foundation
There are many ways to help fulfill the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. The Make-A-Wish Foundation partners with many companies during the holiday season. For example, if you drop off a letter to Santa at any Macy’s location, the store will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish. Another way to help the Foundation raise funds is by buying gifts through the Make-a-Wish store. When you purchase a gift for a loved one, a portion of the proceeds go directly back to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help other children’s dreams come true.
4) Angel Tree
The Christian charity Angel Tree helps children who have at least one parent in prison. Angel Tree’s goal is to bring Christmas and the gospel to their children. Many cities have Angel Tree locations where you can pick a child to sponsor, or you can visit the Angel Tree website to donate online.Your gift of any amount will help provide a gift to an Angel Tree child on behalf of their parent in prison. Because of your act of kindness, children of prisoners will experience an unforgettable holiday season.
5) Salvation Army’s Fill the Truck
The Salvation Army and Walmart partner up to hold a toy drive at Walmart stores. The event gives customers a chance to help local families that are less fortunate. Customers receive a list of suggested gifts they can purchase in the store and then take them to donate to “Fill the Truck.” The Salvation Army will then distribute the gifts to families in your community.
6) Christmas Spirit Foundation
The Christmas Spirit Foundation provides hundreds of Christmas trees each year to troops stationed overseas who will not be home for Christmas. The organization also delivers trees to military bases stateside so troops and their families can get free Christmas trees.
7) United Way Christmas Bureau
The United Way provides a Christmas Bureau in cities across the United States that is set up to help low-income families. The Christmas Bureau provides a meal and gifts directly to families that are less fortunate.
8) Feeding America.
Volunteer at a local food bank this holiday season. Feeding America has locations all over the United States, so find a food bank near you and serve others.
9) Help pack meals for undernourished children.
According to the organization “Feed My Starving Children, volunteers hand-pack scientifically formulated meals for undernourished children,” and they’ve helped ship over two billion meals since starting.
The year-end holidays are a time of reflection that inspire many people to reach out to those who are in need. Whether it’s through a donation or an action, you can help someone who might need a little extra lifting this holiday season. If you choose to participate in the charitable giving season, it is important that you take the time to guarantee that your donations are doing the most benefits for the causes you care about!