Share the Joy
Operation Christmas Child
Fill a shoebox with small gifts, and change a child’s entire world this holiday season. The spirit of giving extends overseas with Operation Christmas Child, an annual project put on by Samaritan’s Purse.
You can decide to fill a box with your kids: choose whether it’s for a boy or girl, pick the age range, then package up nonperishable items and leave it at a local drop-off station. Samaritan’s Purse will send it to a child in need somewhere across the globe, and you and your kids can follow your box's path on the nonprofit’s website.
Children’s Hunger Fund
More than 99 percent of donations to CHF, totaling over $1 billion and spanning 72 countries, have gone directly to help provide food to hungry children. When you and your kids will likely be sitting down to big meals this holiday season, supporting this cause will help ensure more kids just like them will have something to eat. You can host a party, event or fundraiser with your children, get involved in the organizations Project Food Pak, or donate directly.
Heifer International
In impoverished parts of the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe, a single animal can make a huge difference for an entire village of people. Heifer International began in the mid-1940s when Dan West realized a cow could provide an ongoing source of milk for Spanish Civil War Refugees. Today, the organization helps send animals like cows, goats and sheep to people in need. Give the gift of an animal as a family, and see if you can count how many lives you touch.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
At heart, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is all about kids, so it’s not surprising there are many ways your children can help out the young people whose lives have been slowed significantly by type 1 diabetes. From the foundation’s special Kids Walk, to Cure Diabetes, to buying greeting cards created by kids with juvenile diabetes, the website has tons of unique ways kids can get involved and raise awareness.
K.I.D.S.
Since its founding in 1985, Kids In Distressed Situations has been able to lend over $1 billion in aid to children in need—like those dealing with poverty, domestic violence, incarcerated parents, and serious illness—in the form of new books, clothes, baby products and other supplies. From hosting a fundraiser or product drive to picking out products online that will go toward the K.I.D.S. mission, there are lots of ways to help with your kids.
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
This nonprofit attacks pediatric AIDS through advocacy, education, research and preventive care. Donating just $19 can help the organization get a pregnant mom the resources to stop the spread of HIV to her baby.
Beyond monetary contributions, you and your kids can become involved in the organization in other ways. Participate in a race, host a holiday party in support of the fight against AIDS and encourage your kids to get involved in the foundation’s Generation Free Campaign, comprised of events where young people raise awareness as well as funds.
