5 Easy Ways To Help Kids In Need This Christmas
5 Easy Ways to Help Kids in Need This Christmas
If you would like to teach your kids to give back this holiday season, here are 5 easy ways to help kids in need this Christmas.
The holiday season can be a magical time for kids. But it can also be a difficult time of year for families in need. As you plan your own holiday celebrations this year, consider ways your family can spread the Christmas joy. You can easily donate your time or money to a worthy cause.
If you’re looking for ways to give back this holiday season, consider giving back with one of these easy ways to help kids in need this Christmas.
Donate Toys
One of the easiest ways to help children in need this holiday season is to donate toys. And there are so many great organizations to consider when giving toys to kids in need. Toys for Tots, operated by the U.S. Marines, distributes toys to families in need throughout your local community. All you have to do is purchase a new toy and drop it off at any of the organization’s local drop-off spots between October and December. Volunteers will take care of the rest.
Another great way to donate toys is through the Salvation Army’s Fill the Truck Program. To donate, simply head to a participating Wal-Mart store during the event and shop for gifts according to the list of suggested presents. Volunteers will then deliver the gifts to families in need throughout your community.
In addition to these great national organizations, many local groups also offer similar gift giving programs during the holiday season. Contact your children’s school or your church to see if your city has a holiday program your family can contribute to this year.
Put Together a Gift Box
If you’re looking for an idea that’s a little more involved, consider donating to Operation Christmas Child. This great organization sends shoeboxes filled with necessities (and some fun items) to kids in need all around the world.
To donate, you’ll be asked to fill a shoe box with small toys, hygiene items, schools, supplies, clothing, and packaged treats. You can even include a personal note from your family. Then, head over to the organization’s website where you’ll be asked to make a small donation online to cover shipping costs.
The organization will give you a special shipping label for your box so you can track it as it travels to a child in need.
Related: 7 Creative Ways To Give Back This Christmas
Hospital Gifts
Some children are forced to spend their Christmas in the hospital. Contact your local hospital to see if there is a program for donating gifts to local kids in need. Or visit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital’s Christmas wish list to find out what those kids are looking for this holiday season.
Another simple way to help hospital-bound children during the holiday season is to donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Simply drop off your kid’s letters to Santa at Macy’s and the department store will donate $1 per letter. Or do your holiday shopping at the Make-A-Wish store, where the proceeds of your purchased go directly to the program.
Support a Military Family
Many military families are forced to celebrate the holidays without their loved ones at home. And others must celebrate Christmas in a foreign country or region far from their extended families. Through Operation Christmas Spirit, your family can adopt a military family in need of financial help during the holiday season.
You can go shopping and purchase items from the family’s Christmas wish list or simply donate money and the organization will do the shopping for you.
Related: FREE Christmas Traditions To Start With Your Family This Year!
And another organization, the Christmas Spirit Foundation, helps military families celebrate Christmas by providing them with a Christmas tree for the holidays. Just make a donation online and the organization will deliver a tree to a family in need.
Adopt a Family in Need
While all these national organizations do amazing work across the country, sometimes it’s better to make your holiday giving more personal. Instead of donating money or toys to kids in need this year, why not consider adopting a kid or family in need?
To pick a family in need, contact your church or child’s school to find out if they know a family in need of assistance during the holidays. Or check your local Catholic charities, Lutheran Social Services, or Salvation Army to be matched with a family in need of assistance.
Related: The Best Handmade Christmas Gifts That Aren’t Totally Lame
After finding a family to help, start to learn more about the children in the family. Consider their age, gender, likes/dislikes, clothing sizes, etc. Also consider the things the family needs this holiday season. Then, sit down with your own family to come up with gift ideas and other ways you can help. One idea would be to cook the family a meal or donate food for Christmas dinner.
Head out as a family to go shopping for everything. Then spend the afternoon wrapping gifts and labeling them with the children’s names. When the gifts are ready to be delivered, drop them off at the designated location.
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