“Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.” -Ben Carson
The holiday season is a time for giving, and there are plenty of charities that help children in need. You can make a positive impact on your community and encourage your friends and family to do the same. We are all in this together. The children in our communities need our help more than ever to bring them hope and support through the hardest times of their lives. Here are 7 charities that help children that you can donate to this season:
1) Toys for Tots
It’s the 75th anniversary of Toys for Tots. Each year, the Marine Corps collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them to less fortunate children throughout the United States. You can find out more to help your local campaign here.
2) St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude has become a household name, as they are very well known for their childhood cancer and other life-threatening disease research, and their success rate of helping children through their treatments. There are many ways to donate, from monetary donations to brand new toys, to purchasing from local stores that contribute to St. Jude! Your contribution will help save the children. Check out how you can help here.
3) Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation has helped numerous children keep smiles on their beautiful faces by making their wishes come true. Whether they want to go to Disney, meet a celebrity, or have their own hockey rink, Make-A-Wish has been able to make it happen for underprivileged and sick children. According to their website, a wish is granted every 34 minutes. They have numerous opportunities available to make an impact, and you can find them here.
4) Pay Away the Layaway
You can help families provide for their children during the holidays by helping to “Pay Away the Layaway”. This started out as a random act of kindness that blossomed into this successful non-profit organization. Their mission is “to inspire hope and spread kindness by helping families pay off layaway balances that include children’s items, such as games, toys, books, backpacks, clothes, and coats. You can donate directly here.
5) Project Linus
With over 9,000,000 handmade blankets delivered since 1995, Project Linus has been a success, and you can help keep it going. They deliver their blankets to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, any anywhere else children may be in need. You may either create the blankets yourself or you can donate a monetary amount to help provide supplies and other items the children may need. You can find your local chapter here.
6) One Simple Wish
One Simple Wish works hard to restore happiness to those impacted by the trauma of foster care and childhood crisis. You’ll have numerous options available on the website with real wishes from children in need. All you need to do is click the one you want, submit your donation, and you’ve helped that child. At the time of this post, there are currently 281 wishes totaling $43,239 waiting to be granted. You can browse all wishes here.
7) Operation Christmas Spirit
Operation Christmas Spirit has been going 18 years strong, and is organized by Operation Help a Hero. They support military families in need around the holidays, and also have numerous ways to contribute. You can donate directly, host a fundraiser, or “adopt” a military family. Find out more about how you can help here.