Charities Blog

Giving Something Back

Christmas Charities Start Coming In

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Whenever the last quarter of the year comes in, expect a lot of charities to be put up. While most of us are planning on what stuff to buy and what food to prepare on Christmas, there are people who are sulking in a corner, wondering what Christmas would be like this year.

A lot of them are made up of orphans and old people who have been abandoned. For orphans, they never really experienced what the true meaning of Christmas truly brings. They only hear about it through the papers or from stories by people who visit them but as far as really enjoying the season of giving, majority are clueless on how it is like.

As for elders who have been abandoned, they have at one time enjoyed the spirit of the Yuletide season. They know how much joy it brings to any home and while they are sure that past experiences are cherished memories, the fact remains that they have to spend Christmas differently from hereon.

Social community services have been put up to try and share the spirit of Christmas to these people. It is not simply about giving gifts. It is about being there for them since they really have no one else to celebrate anymore. Even if you ask them, it is about fighting off the loneliness that they experience during these times. Apparently, it all comes down to making do with what they can this coming holidays and rest assured, being loved or having company around is more than enough for them this time around.

Buy Charity Made Items for Christmas

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Some people are thinking about what good business to do this Christmas. Decors and small tokens that they can give to other people are surely on their mind. But while others are thinking of profits, others are doing it for organizations where hopefully their talents can be put to good use. Charitable organizations have to think of some way to generate income although it is not really the main purpose of their existence.

We see Christmas cards or even some baked goods coming from them. Ideally, anyone would be touched at the efforts and for sure, endorsing or buying them can really do a lot than get money for all their efforts. It is about acknowledging and valuing what these people try to come up during the Christmas season. Also, many would be surprised at how these made goods and items would be of better quality than the ones that we find in the usual department stores.

That is perhaps the funny part. While many companies are trying to find cheaper materials, these people make do with what they have. It is not a business for them but rather an outlet to see what they can come up with. Charities are not income-generating groups. They are there to support their occupants and discarded people of society.

Hence in a manner of speaking, it is like training them and helping them give their lives a purpose. This is something that they have truly forgotten and with these ventures, perhaps they can discover themselves and find intent to live in the process.

Feeding Programs Expected to be Rampant This Season

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In exchange for not being able to donate much cash, expect feeding programs for the children in particular to be rampant. A lot of people would prefer to give food over money since as we all know that it is perhaps one, if not, the most important necessity that humans would need today.

Surprisingly, a lot of these people who embark on feeding programs are newly graduated students. For some schools, performing community service seems to rub off on them and is something that they bring even when they start their careers. It doesn’t really take much to organize a feeding program and with the help of some sponsors to whom they solicit in kind, feeding programs for kids can really be something worthwhile.

We all know that today, most charities would prefer cash, but given the situation where everyone is going crazy on where to get some funds, charities are lucky that there are still people who go out of their way to arrange such activities by going out of their usual routine and scheduling them near the holidays.

Sending out some help through solicitation letters is not hard to prepare. It is more of how to get these potential sponsors to help out the worthy cause. But seeing that it is really most of goods and not money, perhaps the whole effort would be worth it especially now that the holidays are here.

Stater Bros. Helps Fights Hunger this Christmas

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Talk about the main concern of most people today in the light of the economic catastrophe besetting the world, it is trying to stay alive and fighting hunger. There are a lot of organizations today that are independently trying to do their thing but apparently they cannot do it alone. One can just imagine their setup at the moment, staving off problems by trying to infuse funds as much as they can. But the fact of the matter remains that even the best efforts of these groups cannot really address the problems of hunger this Christmas on their own.

Stater Bros. Charities aims to do just that and give it a go. Stater Bros. Charities has reportedly released checks in the amount of $6,918.31 or more to assist 31 organizations. The move can be seen as minimal but the fact of the matter here is that each penny counts.

“It’s our hope that every person living in our community will be cared for this holiday season,” said Jack H. Brown, Chairman and CEO of Stater Bros. Markets. “Because of this, Stater Bros. Charities is honored to help in a larger way this year by making substantial contributions to the organizations that serve on the frontlines.”

So while people are worried of the outcome of the charity works this Christmas, perhaps it all starts from actual needs. For sure, other charity organization could do well to follow the lead of Stater Bros. Charity groups. It all depends on how they understand and assess the real needs of charities at least for the coming holidays.

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More “In Kind” Donations to Charities this Year

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While the finance side of most donors this year has been severely affected, there are other ways that they will be shelling out a good cause when the holidays start rushing in. Sure there will be not much cash donations this year but old clothes, food and perhaps some books will take the place of the usual generous donors just to keep the spirit of giving alive.

As far as the various institutions are concerned, the best they can do is say “Thank You”. It is apparent that most of the cash donations comprise the majority of their operations expenses such as light and water expenses but as far as this season of giving is concerned, it certainly doesn’t look bright. People are having a hard time and the next best thing is to try and help out the people in need with alternative basic necessities which are sure to be appreciated.

Big companies are doing the same thing. Although some of them have still pledged giving various contribution based on their actual sales made from operations, the hard times that they are also experiencing is expected to take its toll. The collections they may get from pledged donations to the needy may not be as large as before but for sure, there will still be inflows as far as cash needs are concerned.

This is only temporary. Who knows if next year will tell a different story? All of us just have to bear with the hard times we are facing and no one is spared, not even the charitable organizations in need today.

Buy Christmas Cards for a Cause

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Each year, there has to be something, a product to which can be associated with groups for a worthy cause. Normally we would see orphanages or housed disabled people trying to produce something useful for the normal person. Aside from the produced bags and consumer goods, one thing that they would familiarly offer are personally made Christmas cards to which each card bought would mean helping out their cause.

There are also some groups that produce seasonal cards to which each card sold would be given to charity. Other than a good cause, one may be surprised at the quality of these cards or the messages that come with them. Christmas is all about giving but it is also about remembering. Certainly, a Christmas card may seem to be cheaper to give but like everything else in acts of generosity, it is really the thought that counts.

Word of this spread and some parents decided that they would do the same. Instead of spending a fortune on cards that would end up in the bin, we sent an email with Christmas greetings and news to friends and family and gave the cash to the same charity.

This year staff have suggested that the children do not give their friends individual Christmas cards, but that each class makes a large card that they all agree on a message for, sign and read out in assembly. Parents are then asked to donate the money they have saved by not buying the cards.

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So if you are thinking of a good gift to give this holiday season, consider these products for a good cause. They may not seem much as far as cost is concerned, but it is really about making a person happy and the cause to which it was meant to help.

Charitable Contributions for this Coming Christmas

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Christmas season is about 3 months away and while many of us are making our Christmas shopping list and people to give things to, some are thinking of what charitable act to do. Some have already made efforts in giving to the poor, particularly the children who cannot spend a memorable Christmas due to their status but that doesn’t mean people could care less on what to give them.

Much of these kids are street children who have been abandoned or left for granted by their supposed parents. Most of them aren’t left with much choice as they are living in orphanages with the hope that one good Samaritan would come their way and perhaps give them a home. While many are wondering how to runaway from home, there are children looking for one. If only it was that simple to trade places then perhaps kids of today will realize the value of having a family and a home.

Anyway, for Christmas, you have to wonder what good deed to do. Some are constrained in the orphanages while others are wandering in the streets. For sure, it is not wise to give money as they may not even know how to spend and use it wisely. Why not food or even hold charitable events such as feeding and gift giving? For sure this would make the kids happy since all they are really looking for is to belong and live like a normal child. Have you ever given it any thought?

Christmas Charities Tops the List for Fund Raising Events

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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.

Tanay Rizal Children

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.

[tags]charities, orphanage, christmas[/tags]

Helping Pets This Holiday Season

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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.

[tags]pets,animal cruelty,christmas,holidays,animal welfare,aspca,rspca[/tags]

Helping Needy Families Through HALO

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With the holiday season fast approaching, theres no better time to start giving. Christmas charities are now beginning to launch their annual campaigns, which we’ll be looking into in the next few posts.

One charity to start early is HALO or Holiday Angels Loving Others. This charity which started five years ago, was formed to help brighten the lives of families in need for the holiday season. This comes in the form of food and gifts, of which there are three ways to help: through donations, volunteering, or adopting a family.
A project of the Catholic Charities, the charity allows both individuals and corporations to help, monetary donations of which are tax deductable. Pam Richcreek, Assistance Coordinator at Catholic Charities explains:

“HALO truly promotes community involvement…The clients like it because they feel a sense of belonging to the community and it provides the personal touch for the adopters, because they actually meet the families they are donating to”

[tags]charities,christmas,halo,catholic charities,families,holidays[/tags]