The holiday season is without question the busiest season of the year for gift giving and shopping for new stuff that any person can afford. However for some people, bringing Christmas to them is much more rewarding rather than self satisfaction in the form of cash and gifts.

It is true that not all people, especially children from orphanages, are lucky to spend and appreciate the Yuletide season with their loved ones. However, each person in the world can do their part in trying to fill the empty void that these unfortunate people go through.

Spare cash, belongings and other items that may not be even used may be more appreciated by people who do not encounter them everyday. Thus, once the Yuletide season is here, it is not St. Nicholas who can make children happy in thought, but people who take pride in bringing joy to these needy creatures who have lost faith in the spirit of giving.

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Categories: Activities, Analysis, Campaigns, Charities, Children, Holidays, Shopping, Teens | Tags: Charities, christmas, orphanage

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If you love animals, consider giving to a pet or animal charity this holiday season. In your community alone, there are various organizations who need your help. If you live in the UK, a good place to start looking is at Pet Charities website. This comprehensive site has listings of most animal charities in the UK, with contact details.

Here are some ideas that will give brighten up a pet’s life:

1. Animal Rescues and Shelters

These places are always in need of food, blankets, medicine, toys and other supplies. Visit or call your local one and ask what necessities they need most. Also consider putting your time to volunteer, act as a foster home, or better yet, adopt a pet yourself.

2. Animal Welfare Groups

Large organizations like the RSPCA (Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), The American Humane Society or the ASPCA are great places to start off finding ways you can help. Their websites are incredibly comprehensive and organized, and have a lot of facts and information and well as the latest news, programs and interesting stories.

You can even get your children involved by taking them to these sites and asing them how they would like to help. If finding a new family pet is in the picture, take your child to the American Humane Society’s website where they’ll find Clifford The Big Red Dog’s Adopt a Dog Month.

Older kids can also give part of their allowance each month, or raise funds through selling their old toys, clothes or even having an old fashioned lemonade stand in the yard.
Through their sites, you can create direct debit accounts to give monthly donations, or even shop in their store for some great products which go to a worthy cause.

In the RSPCA shop site for instance, the Holiday Collection is out and worth a look. Here’ll you’ll find a wonderful one-stop-shop for a lot of your holiday needs. Fantastic Christmas cards with adorable illustrations of animals, wrapping paper, card holders, advent calendars, Christmas crackers, chocolate, even decorations for the home and much, much more.

There is also a massive selection of toys and personalised gifts for everyone in the family including pets of course!), as well as many other lovely home, garden and leisure items.

Technorati Tags: pets, animal cruelty, christmas, holidays, animal welfare, aspca, rspca

Categories: Animals, Campaigns, Charities, Ideas, Organizations, Shopping, Tips, Websites | Tags: animal-cruelty, animal-welfare, aspca, christmas, Holidays, pets, rspca

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Barnardos, the UK’s leading charity for children is adding a new store to its group pf charity shops, only this time it has a much more glamorous edge.

The first central London shop of Barnardos, and certainly the first charity shop of its kind, the shop will be selling items chosen by the UK’s top celebrities both new and used (by the celeb, of course) as well as designer products.

Gerard Cousins, head of retail at Barnardo’s commented:

“This is our first central London shop and we are incredibly excited about the interest it has already generated. We intend to have a constant stream of both celebrity and designer items up for sale. It will be a hotspot for any discerning shopper.”

The shop, located in George Street, Marylebone, will open its doors on November 15th, following a celebrity-studded launch event. Stars such as Jonathan Ross, Dame Helen Mirren, Melinda Messenger, Kate Winslet and Laura Bailey are among the stars donating their most treaured items to be sold at the shop.

Jonathan Ross, pictured above, and whose suit is to be sold at the launch gushed:

“I am delighted and slightly intrigued to discover who will buy my suit. But whoever buys it will be helping a worthwhile cause which is what it’s all about. I intend to pop into the shop myself as I hear there are some Bassey numbers up for grabs!”

Technorati Tags: Charity shop, childrens charity, Barnardos, celebrity event, Jonathan Ross

Categories: Charities, Children, Events, News, Shopping | Tags: Barnardos, celebrity-event, Charity-shop, childrens-charity, Jonathan-Ross

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