Help for Needy Kids for Christmas
The holidays can be a time of magic and positive experiences for needy kids. During the holiday season, the thoughts and concerns of many people turn to helping disadvantaged children. The different types of organizations, groups and agencies that provide help for kids in need at Christmas include local Toys for Tots programs, churches, religious organizations, community service clubs, state and county agencies, and shelters. The groups that offer assistance will vary for each town or state, so check local sources for detailed information. There are always a number of ways to provide help for needy kids at Christmas.
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Toys for Tots
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One of the more well-known groups that provide an easy way to help needy kids is the Toys for Tots program. The United States Marine Corps Reserve gathers new, unwrapped toys during the three months preceding Christmas. The Marines then distribute the toys to kids who find themselves in less fortunate circumstances. The Marines use this program to bring local communities together in setting and reaching the common goal: helping needy kids experience the joy of receiving a toy at Christmas.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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The children at St. Jude's are especially in need at Christmas. St. Jude's is the only cancer center for kids where the parents never have to pay for treatment that insurance does not cover. A donation to these kids during the holidays could make a real difference. Donors can join the Partner in Hope monthly giving plan, donate money in memory of a loved one, or even include this special place in a will or trust.
It costs $1.6 million per day to operate this world premier pediatric cancer research center. St. Jude really depends on donations to assist families who cannot pay to treat their children. The promise of financial assistance eases the stress and financial burden that would ordinarily be placed on these families. The staff at St. Jude's will even work with an employer or business to organize a giving program at the office.
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Operation Santa Claus
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This unique organization actually started in a New York post office back in the 1920s. Seeing the incredible number of letters to Santa Claus from needy children asking for gifts, postal employees took it upon themselves to get involved. These employees began buying gifts for the kids. The project grew, and eventually the general public became involved. Soon, Operation Santa Claus spread to post offices across the country.
It's easy to get involved with this program. Simply visit your local post office, to see if it has an Operation Santa Claus program already set up. If not, it can assist members of the community with starting a local program. If that does not work, simply contact the post office in New York. The kids' letters to Santa delivered there can be sent anywhere in the US.
When the letter arrives, read it to find out just what the child wants. Some people send a letter to the parents ahead of time, to let them know a package is coming. In addition to sending a toy, consider including a practical gift like a coat or winter clothing. Needy kids need toys, but they are still needy kids; a coat for a child in a cold climate would be a welcome gift. Be sure to mail the package early to ensure it arrives by Christmas.
Operation Christmas Child
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Another way to help needy kids for Christmas is to get involved with a local church group that works with or sponsors an organized charity called Operation Christmas Child. This international relief group is overseen by Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse ministry; it helps over 8 million needy children in 130 countries around the world. Local churches and volunteers gather and pack unused or discarded shoe boxes with whatever kids' gifts will fit inside. They drop them off at a local pickup locations. Donors can even use EZ Give, which allows online donations to be made for needy kids.
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