Try Donating
Sharon Koehler
Stone Industry Consultant
Every year, right about this time, I go on and on about donating to charity during the holidays. Helping others makes you feel good, etcetera, etcetera. However, these are trying times for a lot of folks, and it may not be in your budget this year – totally understandable. However, if you can, please donate. If you can’t donate monetarily, then think about maybe donating some of your time. Charities are always looking for volunteers, especially in the holidays when the need seems to be the greatest.
There are many great charities to support during Christmas. Below is a VERY INCOMPLETE list of charities that address a lot of different needs, from helping children and families in poverty to supporting local food banks and shelters. They offer meaningful ways to give back during the holiday season. Research and donate to local charities to impact folks in your area.
1. Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a well-known charity that collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to less fortunate children during the holiday season. Run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, this charity makes sure that every child can experience the joy of receiving a gift on Christmas morning. You can donate toys, money, or even host a toy drive in your community. It’s an excellent way to directly spread holiday cheer to children in need.
Why support them: Toys for Tots brings joy to millions of children each Christmas, ensuring that financial hardship doesn’t take away from the magic of the season.
2. The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is one of the most recognizable charitable organizations during the holiday season, thanks to its iconic red kettles and bellringers. They offer a range of services, from emergency shelter and food for the homeless to toy drives and financial help for families. Around Christmas, they run specific holiday campaigns like Angel Tree to help those in need, making it easy to contribute either through direct donations or by taking part in their annual gift programs.
Why support them: The Salvation Army has a longstanding reputation for helping struggling individuals and families, not only during the holidays but year-round.
3. Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with critical illnesses, giving them hope and joy when they need it most. Around Christmas, these wishes often take on a holiday theme, with children asking to visit Santa Claus, receive special gifts, or even take memorable family trips. You can donate directly to their cause or volunteer your time to help make wishes come true.
Why support them: Make-A-Wish creates unforgettable experiences for children facing life-threatening conditions, providing them and their families with lasting happy memories.
4. Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan’s Purse)
Operation Christmas Child, run by Samaritan’s Purse, collects and distributes shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items to children in over 100 countries. The goal is to give a gift to children in some of the world’s poorest and most remote communities. Participants pack their shoeboxes and can track their donations online to see where they go.
Why support them: Operation Christmas Child combines the act of giving with spreading global goodwill, reaching children who might otherwise never receive a gift.
5. Feeding America
Feeding America is one of the largest hunger-relief organizations in the U.S., and their work is especially vital during the holiday season. Many families struggle to afford basic groceries, let alone a holiday meal. By donating to Feeding America, you help provide meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity. They also offer the option to support local food banks in your community.
Why support them: Feeding America makes a direct impact by ensuring that families don’t go hungry during the holidays and beyond, serving over 40 million people each year.
6. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude is a leader in pediatric cancer research and treatment, providing care to children with serious illnesses at no cost to their families. During the holiday season, many people choose to support St. Jude as a way to help children who are battling life-threatening diseases. You can donate directly or take part in their holiday-themed fundraisers and gift campaigns.
Why support them: St. Jude offers life-saving care and cutting-edge research that benefits children around the world, ensuring that no child is turned away based on their ability to pay.
7. Angel Tree (Not the Salvation Army version – The Prison Fellowship one)
Angel Tree, a program run by Prison Fellowship, helps children with incarcerated parents. Volunteers buy and deliver Christmas gifts to these children on behalf of their parents, allowing families to stay connected despite difficult circumstances. This charity offers a heartwarming way to provide gifts, as well as hope, to children who might otherwise feel forgotten during the holidays.
Why support them: Angel Tree strengthens family bonds and gives children the reassurance that they are loved, even when a parent cannot be present.
8. Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House provides free or low-cost housing for families of seriously ill children who are receiving treatment away from home. Their homes offer comfort and support to families during the most challenging times. Donations help provide meals, accommodations, and other services to ease the burden on families during the holidays and beyond.
Why support them: Supporting Ronald McDonald House means providing a “home away from home” for families, so they can focus on helping their children heal.
Christmas is a time for generosity, and there are so many ways to make a difference through charitable giving. Whether you want to help children in need, fight hunger, support families, or work toward global solutions, these organizations offer numerous opportunities to spread joy and kindness during the holiday season.
Please send your thoughts and comments on this article to Sharon Koehler at Sharonk.SRG@gmail.com .