10 Ways for Kids to Give Back During the Holidays

If there’s anything better than creating holiday magic for your children, it’s letting them in on what a gift it is to share that magic with others. Although many nonprofit organizations prefer financial donations, there are still several that will let you “get your hands dirty,” giving of your time and talents side by side with your children. Here are a few such organizations, as well as some other ways that you can give back to your community as a family.

Send Christmas Cards to Those Serving in the Military. The American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program gives kids the opportunity to "give something that means something" by sending cards to active military veterans as well as their families. In previous years, there was a national Holiday Mail for Heroes Post Office Box to send cards to; however, the Red Cross is now offering community-based events for making, signing, sorting and delivering cards to fellow members of the community. If you would like to participate, contact your local American Red Cross chapter to receive information on how you and your family can help out.

Send Care Packages to Those Serving in the Military. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude has been able to send more than 3.5 million care packages to deployed troops, active military, veterans and wounded heroes. You and your crew can help brighten someone’s day by building a care package. Volunteers can also participate in their Handmade with Love project, an opportunity to make a variety of helpful materials such as fleece blankets, cool ties and drawstring bags. All patterns are available on the Operation Gratitude website.

Fight Hunger. Volunteering at a soup kitchen is a great way for teenagers and adults to make a difference in their community, but hot surfaces and sharp knives pose safety risks for young children. For more age-appropriate ways to make a difference, reach out to a local shelter or food bank to see whether your crew can assemble portable meals such as sandwiches. Or simply sign up to volunteer for a two-hour shift at a Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) Mobile Pack event. With FMSC, children as young as 5 years old can volunteer side by side with their parents in packing rice, soy, dried vegetables and vitamins and minerals, that are then sealed, boxed and placed on pallets to be delivered to the neediest children around the world.

Give the Gift of Athletic Gear. Kids outgrow sports equipment quickly, but there’s no need to let all that gear collect dust in the garage. Instead, put it to good use by donating it to an organization such as Sports Gift that takes gently used sporting equipment and distributes it to needy children around the world.

Give Presents to Children in Need. One of the most enjoyable ways to foster a love of service in children is letting them buy presents for needy children their own age. This can be done in a multitude of ways, from donating beloved but gently used toys and stuffed animals to a local shelter or children’s hospital to building a gift package to send through a reputable organization. Some of these include:

• Toys for Tots. Since 1947, Marine Toys for Tots has been delivering new presents to those in need. Presently, the organization distributes an average of 18 million presents to 7 million children annually.
• Angel Tree. Mary Kay Beard was on the FBI’s most wanted list. But during her time behind bars, not only did she have a change of heart but she discovered her life’s calling: ensuring that children of incarcerated parents received gifts at Christmastime. For more than 40 years, Prison Fellowship has provided more than 6 six million gifts. You too can help brighten the day of a child that might not receive a gift at Christmas otherwise.
• Comfort Cases. Noting that most children entering the foster care system are given nothing but a trash bag to place their belongings in, Comfort Cases seeks to do one better by providing backpacks or suitcases full of helpful contents to children that would otherwise be without.
• Operation Christmas Child. For more than 29 years, Samaritan’s Purse International Relief has mailed presents to children in need across the globe. For more information on drop-off sites, as well as package building tips, go to each organization’s website. Boxes are collected each November, but kids can start shopping now to build next year’s boxes!

Micro-Volunteer.  A lot of ground can be made by performing simple acts of kindness. Minnesota-based nonprofit Doing Good Together is an organization that came about in an effort to help make volunteering more accessible to young families. Their 30 Days of Kindness Challenge also lists a multitude of ways doing little things can make a big difference, such as drawing uplifting chalk messages at a park or handing out thank you’s to service industry workers such as trash removal providers and mail carriers.

Drop Off Treats for Service Industry Workers. Emergencies don’t take a break for the holidays and, consequently, neither do service industry workers. Many police officers, firefighters, EMTs and nurses work away from their families on the holidays to care for those in crisis. Consider dropping off a plate of homemade goodies (or some catering if you’re not inclined to cook) at your local fire station or hospital to let those on duty know they are thought of this Christmas season. This gesture goes a long way in making those that work the holidays feel both seen and appreciated.

Make Gifts for the Pet Shelter. Contact your local pet shelter and see how you can help them this Christmas season. Old sheets and blankets can spare a poor pup from having to sleep on a concrete floor. Toys can be made by simply braiding old socks or T-shirts together. And for a fun and simple project, consider making homemade dog treats. 

Adopt a Senior Citizen. The holidays can be a lonely time for elderly citizens that don’t have family nearby. Have your children hand out Christmas cards at a local senior citizen center or offer to host an aging neighbor for a holiday dinner.

Sing Christmas Carols. Buddy the Elf wasn’t wrong when he quipped, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Teach your kids a handful of traditional carols and go door to door singing a few to get your neighborhood in the Christmas spirit!

Lauren Greenlee is an Olathe freelance writing boymom who relishes the gift of giving back to her community during the Christmas season. Her family can be found volunteering with Feed My Starving Children and building shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child this holiday season.