What Kids Can Do for Those in Need During the Holidays

A radio talk show host said to his guest, "Many needy kids won't get presents for Christmas. What advice can you give to our listeners?"

"Encourage your children to donate toys they no longer want to area shelters and agencies who serve the poor," she replied. "Every unwanted toy becomes a gift for child in need."

I once taught in taught in an urban elementary school. Some of our students lived in homeless shelters. The only opportunities most of them had to eat were in our school cafeteria. Very few of them received gifts during the holiday season. I could not afford to give every student a Christmas present, so I created a Craigslist post and asked for assistance:

I teach at an inner-city elementary school. Christmas is coming. Would you like to donate a gift for a child? They love art supplies, toys, and games. Please contact me for more information.

Generous families donated art supplies, toys, and games. The students wanted to use some of the art supplies to create gifts for their parents and cards for teachers and grandparents.  They were thrilled to open gifts on the last day before the winter holidays.

I am so grateful to all of the families who made the season brighter for kids who desperately needed gifts of joy. Many families who responded to the Craigslist post said their children wanted to share their toys with my students. I explained I would be happy to pick up their children's donations.

Although I thanked the children for their generosity, about 90% of the toys were broken, dirty, or worn out beyond repair. I graciously accepted their gifts, but I did not have the heart to give broken toys to our students.

When donating gently used toys, Second Chance Toys encourages parents and children to donate plastic toys that can be easily cleaned. They suggest toys without small or missing parts and, if needed, contain functioning batteries. Books should be clean and have no tears or missing pages. Puzzles must have all pieces.

Schools, churches, and after-school programs sometimes welcome gently used toys and books. Do not assume they want donations before you drop them off at their doors. Call and ask the organization if they need or want contributions before you make a delivery.

Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and many local organizations use monies from the sale of donated toys, books, and games to benefit those they serve. DonationTown offers a list of donation and collection sites - and they pick up contributions in many cities.

If a toy, book, or game is broken or in poor condition, throw it out or recycle it.

Most organizations, such as Marine Toys for Tots, prefer new toys in their original packaging. If your child wants to donate a new toy or gift, engage in a discussion about ways to raise money towards its purchase. Involve your child in the selection of a present and where it will be donated.

Here are more ways you and your children can serve others during the holiday season:

1. Make cookies for employees at a local fire department or police station.
2. Choose a child’s name from a Giving Tree and select a gift as a family.
3. Make and send holiday cards to military personnel overseas. Organizations such as A Million Thanks and Operation Gratitude ensure cards are delivered to soldiers throughout the world.
4. Prepare a meal together as a family and take it to a sick or elderly friend.
5. Make arrangements to sing carols - or make holiday cards or gifts - for residents at a nursing home.
6. Ring the bell and collect money for a Salvation Army red kettle.
7. Host a packing party for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry through Samaritan’s Purse that sends shoe boxes of gifts or personal items to children in Third World countries.
8. Contact a children’s ward of your local hospital and ask for permission to bring balloons, handmade cards, or small gifts to patients. Though you will not be able to personally deliver them to the children, the nurses or staff are often happy to share them with patients on your behalf.
9. Rake leaves or shovel snow on sidewalks for sick or elderly neighbors.
10. Volunteer as a family to supervise and play with children in the nursery or playroom during a local school, church, or community event.
11. Donate clean, gently-used coats to a local site that distributes coats to children and adults. Operation Warm provides new coats to children who need them.
12. Volunteer to prepare or distribute food at local homeless food distribution center or soup kitchen as a family. Check out the Homeless Shelter Directory, Feeding America, or FoodPantries.org to find a food pantry or distribution center in your area. Each center provides information about time slot availability and volunteer age requirements.
13. Go to the grocery store as a family and pick up items for a local food pantry. Many stores have drop-off locations within their stores throughout the holidays.

Remember to include a can opener if you select canned goods for a food pantry donation. Some families do not own kitchen utensils. Canned foods like tuna, stew, beans, and chili with pull tabs are easy to open. Ready-to-eat foods such as peanut butter and cereal do not need to be refrigerated. Or you may choose to contribute personal items such as soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, combs and brushes, hand sanitizer, paper towels, or toilet paper.

Sometime our light goes out but is blown into a flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light. - Albert Schweitzer.

Volunteerism offers opportunities for children and families to learn about poverty and homelessness. Children's books such as Maddi's Fridge, A Shelter in Our Car, Uncle Willy and the Soup Kitchen, and Hungry Planet: What the World Needs help children (and adults) discuss the harsh realities many children face every day. Nancy Owen, a counseling therapist, offers suggestions for conversations about homelessness and poverty with children.

The holiday season provides many opportunities to be kind to one another.

“Kindness in words creates confidence," Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, once said. "Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

Kindness has the power to change the world.

Dr. Julie Connor, Ed.D., builds bridges of understanding through communication, collaboration, and inclusion. She is the author of an award-winning personal goal-setting book, Dreams to Action Trailblazer's Guide. Connect with Julie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+. Visit www.DrJulieConnor to learn more.