December 3 was Giving Tuesday, where everyone is encouraged to spread holiday cheer to others through donations, volunteer work, and fundraising. While the official event is only recognized for one day, celebrating Giving Tuesday all season long is a great way to keep spirits merry and bright. If you want to participate but aren’t sure where to start, here are a few ideas to get you going.
Relevant Link: Improve your home’s security with these tips
Child’s Play Charity
It’s difficult to feel excited about the holiday season when there’s a child in your life who is in ongoing treatment for an illness. Child’s Play Charity’s goal is to bring joy to those kids and their families by donating toys, games, and technology to pediatric healthcare facilities and hospitals. They believe that gaming can be therapeutic and can help children manage their symptoms, and they even partner with popular gamers to hold fundraising livestreams.
Christmas Spirit Foundation
For those who celebrate Christmas, one of the most fundamental parts of the season is setting up and decorating the tree. The Christmas Spirit Foundation helps ensure this sentimental activity is possible for US Military members and their loved ones through the Trees for Troops program. Thanks to donations and sponsorships, the Christmas Spirit Foundation has given over 300,000 real Christmas trees to military bases around the world and families in the US whose spouses or parents are serving overseas.
USPS Operation Santa
Spreading Christmas cheer is easy through the United States Postal Service’s Operation Santa program. Every year, kids from around the country write letters to Santa, and once the post office receives them, they are uploaded to the organization’s website. You can then go online to choose a child’s letter and purchase items on their list for them to receive on Christmas. It’s a great way to make children’s wishes come true while also keeping the magic of Santa Claus alive for them.
More Resources: Subscribe to our blog for more ideas
Toys for Tots
One holiday giving program that is very recognizable for many is the US Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots. The process of gathering donations for this initiative is fairly simple—all you need to do is connect with your local Toys for Tots Chapter and let them know you’re interested in doing a Toy Drive.
This one is very dear to our hearts. During our One Day Sale last month, all our NewSouth markets offered a special discount for anyone who brought in a toy donation. Together, we collected over 220 items that will benefit the children of our local communities this Christmas.
Feeding America
There are many ways to give back during the holiday season, and an excellent alternative to gifts and toys is providing food. Having a special meal for the holidays is an important tradition for many families, so food donations are especially useful this time of the year. Feeding America partners with food pantries all around the United States and can help you find a local food bank near you.
Local Community Organizations
Outside of the major nonprofit programs that offer assistance during the holiday season, there are also many local organizations that take donations for those in need. Churches, Boy/Girl Scout troops, and community centers are just a few of the places you can look at for opportunities to help those living in your area who need it.
Supporting one of these philanthropic initiatives (or one of your choosing) to make holiday wishes come true means that the magic and message of Giving Tuesday will continue to live on.
