As the holiday season is quickly approaching, many people will experience it in different ways. Some families will be able to spend money on seasonal foods, necessities, gifts, and so on. While others are unable to purchase necessities like food, clothes, or housing. And you’re probably thinking, “That is so sad. I wish I could help someone have a good holiday season.” Fortunately, there are organizations like Toys for Tots, Adopt a Family, and more that you can support to help families in need! By supporting these organizations, you are not only helping someone but making a difference in the community.
Toys For Tots
Every kid loves toys, as they are seen as one of the staples of childhood. But unfortunately, not every family can afford them for their children. Luckily, the Toys for Tots goal is to help those children receive toys. Toys for Tots’ mission is to give children the toys that they love during the holidays, if their families cannot, and they want your help.
How You Can Help
Donating – They are looking for unwrapped, brand-new toys that you can donate to donation boxes near you. To find a location near you, visit Toys For Tots.
They not only accept toys, but also accept donations for older children. Some ideas for older children could be sports equipment, cosmetics, board games, books, backpacks, etc. Not only can you make those donations, but you can also make an online donation to Toys for Tots, start a fundraising campaign, donate a virtual toy box, donate to the Toys for Tots Literacy Program, etc. To see more ways you can help, you can visit Toys for Tots.
Adopt A Family Of The Palm Beaches
Every family needs a place they can call home. A home provides safety, comfort, and a place to eat, sleep, and maintain personal hygiene. However, housing can be very expensive. Which means that some families are unable to afford a home. Fortunately, Adopt A Family Of The Palm Beaches aims to help those families get back on their feet. Adopt a Family helps with family homelessness, housing stability, youth education, and wraparound services. But they can’t do this all on their own; they need the community’s assistance.
How You Can Help
- Thanksgiving Food Drive – You can assist in buying, putting together, and giving out bags that carry tasty Thanksgiving food for families in need.
- Santa Shoppe – This is a fun, festive event that allows children to pick gifts for family members, participate in crafts, eat a delicious lunch, and get a wrapped present from Santa. The event is asking for gifts from children’s wish lists, and volunteers who are 16 years old or older, who can be shopping buddies for a child, or are able to help set up, wrap gifts, or serve food.
- Homeless Resource Center Gift Giving Event – At this annual event, parents are allowed to choose gifts for their children and then have them wrapped by volunteer elves. For this event to go on, they need new toys, stocking stuffers, financial donations, and volunteers. (Volunteers must be 16 years old or older.)
- Holiday Adopter Program – This program lets you “adopt” a family for the Christmas season by purchasing gifts from a family’s wish list. Additional ways to support this program are to wrap gifts for the families (must be 16 years old or older), or you can donate money.
(Boca Magazine)
Palm Beach County Food Bank
According to the Palm Beach County Food Bank, “More than 192,000 residents in Palm Beach County struggle with hunger, with nearly 51,000 of these residents being children who do not have enough to eat every day.” Hunger impacts so many people in Palm Beach County, and we need to put a stop to it. When you support, donate to, and volunteer with the Palm Beach County Food Bank, you are helping local community members overcome food insecurity.
How You Can Help
- Donating Food – Food donations are needed so fewer people will have to go through food insecurity. You can donate items like canned meats, dried or canned beans, nut butters, canned meals, canned or dry soup, cereal, oatmeal, protein bars, rice, pasta, and shelf-stable milk.
- Volunteering – In order for people to receive their meals, volunteers are crucial for packing, boxing, and sorting food. Volunteering shifts are Monday through Thursday at 9 A.M-12 P.M. and 1 P.M.-4 P.M., Fridays at 9 A.M.-12 P.M., and the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month at 9 A.M.-12 P.M. Volunteers are required to be 14 years old or older.
- Fill The Plates – This is a fundraising campaign raising money to give children and seniors warm, healthy meals, who are depending on food assistance programs. According to the Palm Beach County Food Bank, “Your generous donation will be recognized in a symbolic hand-blown glass plate created by The Benzaiten Center for the Creative Arts along our “Fill the Plates’ wall.” Any donation makes a difference, so if you can, contribute!
What Other Ways Am I Able To Give Back?
There are multiple other ways that you can give back. You could start a fundraising campaign for one of the organizations listed or others, write letters to children in hospitals or active military members, bake something for your neighbors, pick up trash in your community, visit and do activities with residents in a nursing home, foster a pet, help out in the classroom, bring a dessert to the local fire or police station, etc.
Holidays aren’t all about the presents you get. It is about what you give back. When you do something kind, like what was listed above, you are making a powerful positive impact in the community. From picking up trash in your community to donating a toy to a child in need, your kindness makes a difference.
