Organizations That Help Kids in Need for Christmas
Due to circumstances beyond their control, children all over the world face a Christmas morning without a gift to unwrap or even a hot meal to eat. Fortunately, there are charitable organizations that provide support to less fortunate children and their families during the holiday season. These organizations gather food, toys and other donations to help grant Christmas wishes.
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Toys for Tots
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The U.S.Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program collects new toys from October to November each year and then distributes them to children in need. There are 500 local Toys for Tots committees throughout the United States. These committees establish drop-off boxes at selected businesses and hold toy-raising events to gather gifts. Since 1947, they work together with churches, community groups and social welfare agencies to get the toys to the needy children. Donations can also be made online through the Toys for Tots website.
Salvation Army
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Through its local chapters, the Salvation Army supports two Christmas programs for children. The Angel Tree program reaches out to children 12 and under to find out what they want for Christmas. The child's wish is placed on an individual tag on a Christmas or Angel Tree. The trees are found at local businesses, such as shopping malls. Employers can also sponsor trees and encourage their employees to donate. Anyone wishing to participate removes a wish tags, purchases the named gift and then brings it back to the tree for the Salvation Army to collect.
The Salvation Army also holds a Red Kettle drive every holiday season since 1891. Red Kettles are staffed by volunteers who ring bells while passersby leave money. The money collected is used to purchase food, clothing and toys for needy children and families.
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Operation Christmas Child
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Operation Christmas Child is managed by the Samaritan's Purse Christian international relief organization. The program sends shoe boxes of toys, school supplies and other gifts to children between the ages of 2 and 14 around the world. Those interested in contributing are asked to fill a shoebox, or similarly sized container, include $7 for shipping (as of 2010) and drop off the box at a collection center between November 15th and 22nd each year. Donations can also be accepted year-round at Samaritan's Purse headquarters in North Carolina or preprinted labels can be downloaded to ship a box.
Make-A-Wish Foundation
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The Make-A-Wish Foundation was established in 1980 to grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. Children's wishes typically fall into four categories: somewhere they want to go, someone they want to be, someone they want to meet or something they want to have. Through donations, the foundation helps these children fulfill their Christmas and everyday wishes. Children who qualify for the program must be between 2 1/2 and 17 years old and their doctor must verify that they are medically eligible.
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References
- Marine Toys for Tots Foundation: How Toys for Tots Works
- The Salvation Army: Memphis: What We Do: The Angel Tree Program
- The Salvation Army: Red Kettles
- Samaritan's Purse: Operation Christmas Child: Pack a Shoe Box
- Make-A-Wish Foundation: About
- Make-A-Wish Foundation: Refer a Child: What Can a Child Wish for?
Resources
- Photo Credit kids ready for christmas image by sonya etchison from Fotolia.com
