Charities distribute gifts to those in need, often through social service organizations. Recipients can speak to their social worker or contact charities directly to request assistance. Some charities require eligibility forms, while others prioritize families with greater financial needs. It’s important to contact organizations early and not feel ashamed about receiving help.
It can often seem that Christmas charity pushes work in only one direction. Contributors rarely have the opportunity to interact with the recipients of their gifts and financial support. That type of contact information is usually kept confidential by the charity itself. There are several ways that social services and charitable organizations coordinate their efforts to distribute gifts to those in real need. You can mention your need to your social worker, if you are already receiving government assistance, or speak directly to charities to let them know about your situation.
Many social service organizations use existing family financial records to generate a list of those who have real financial needs. If you are already in their system for various welfare programs, you may wish to discuss your financial needs with your privately assigned social worker. The caseworker can make sure your name is on an approved list of charitable beneficiaries. Gifts received from the social services organization can be distributed equally among those entitled to assistance at Christmas.
A number of non-profit charitable organizations may ask potential recipients to fill out certain forms to determine eligibility for their particular programs. There may be income level restrictions, for example, or a residency requirement. If you meet the charity’s criteria for receiving holiday donations, then you should be told when and where to appear to receive your share of assistance. However, private organizations have the right to prioritize the distribution of donations according to their own criteria. Families with greater financial needs may be accommodated first, for example.
Other charities simply ask that you show up to qualify. Soup kitchens, food pantries, and other organized meal providers rarely require recipients to demonstrate financial need, for example. A family in need of a hot meal during the holidays can usually visit one of these organizations and get assistance. Food pantries operated by a church collective may require proof of financial need for long-term attendance, but Christmas meals are often excluded from those requirements.
One thing you can do to receive Christmas charity is to contact a number of local churches and non-profit social service organizations early in the year to let them know of your family’s financial needs. The holiday season itself may be too busy for organizations to properly record that information. The Salvation Army, for example, could ask families in need to register in advance for their Angel Tree gifting program so the charity’s workers have all the information ready for December.
Above all, remember that there is no reason to be ashamed when it comes to receiving Christmas charity. All of these donors look forward to the thought of a needy family or individual receiving a gift under their tree, or enough financial support to pay for utilities or housing. Perhaps you will find yourself able to make a charitable contribution in return in the future. In the meantime, if you’re eligible for some financial or material help during the holidays, you have every right to pursue your options.
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