Christmas is more than a time to give and recieve gifts. It’s a time for family and friends, a time to give thanks and be merry. Often we get caught up in the commercial aspect of it and forget about those less fortunate. I decided to scout out a list of charities that you can help with this time of year. You never know, giving just might make you feel better than any gift you could receive.
Christmas Charity-#1
Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation helps grant wishes for children with life-threatening health conditions. By donating to this charity for Christmas, you can help make a wish come true for a child that may not have another Christmas. Knowing that you helped put a smile on the face of a child that is battling a life-threatening condition is a great feeling.
www.wish.org
Christmas Charity-#2
The Salvation Army's Angel Tree
The Angel Tree program is a charity that provides new clothes, toys, and other gifts for needy children for Christmas. Paper angels are attached to Christmas trees that are located in malls, stores, and other locations. The paper angel contains the first name, age, and gender of the child. You can choose one or more of the angels from the tree and purchase age appropriate gifts and clothes for the child. Return the purchased gifts back to where you adopted the angel and the parents of the child will pick up the items to give to them on Christmas day.
www.salvationarmyusa.org
Christmas Charity-#3
Toys for Tots
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves holds their Toys for Tots campaign each year during the months of October, November, and December. Unwrapped toys are collected to be given to needy children at Christmas. The gifts are distributed in the communities where they are collected.
http://www.toysfortots.org/
Christmas Charity-#5
Local Food Banks
Local food banks donate food baskets to families so that they can have Christmas dinner. Most food banks accept food and monetary donations. If you don't have much money but still want to help, consider donating your time to help the food bank put all the boxes together and deliver them.
Christmas Charity-#6
Local Schools
Many local schools try to provide food or gifts for needy students and their families. Contact the school system and ask if they are taking donations or if you can donate gifts or food.
Christmas Charity-#7
Homeless Shelters
Volunteer your time to help cook Christmas dinner at your local homeless shelter. This is a great charity that you can get the entire family involved in. Start a Christmas tradition where the family spends a couple of hours every Christmas volunteering their time to make the holidays better for others.
Christmas Charity-#8
Local Nursing Homes
Sponsor an elderly person this Christmas. Some people in nursing homes don't have family that visits during the holidays. Get in touch with the nursing home and see if they can give you some information on a patient that doesn't have family. Find out what the person likes or needs at take it to them this Christmas. A small gift and a few minutes of company can make the day of some of these patients.
No matter what charity that you decide to donate to this Christmas, you will feel wonderful knowing that you helped brighten this Christmas for someone else.
Merry Christmas from Cullensonline!
