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During the holiday season, many people participate in Christmas charity programs to help others. Popular programs include the Salvation Army’s bell ringing and Angel Tree, Toys for Tots, and Operation Christmas Child. People can also donate their time or talents to local charities or volunteer centers. Some families choose to donate money instead of personal gifts or volunteer together.
For a number of people, the holiday season represents more than just gifts, carols, and family reunions. There is also an element of social responsibility, often expressed through Christmas charity programmes. Whether it’s time spent in the soup kitchen of a homeless shelter or contributions to a toy guide, many people feel a sense of personal satisfaction knowing that they can help others while on vacation. There are a number of programs that welcome donations of time, money, or material possessions.
Perhaps the most familiar Christmas charity program in the United States is provided by the Salvation Army, a Protestant denomination organized during the mid-19th century. Volunteers can agree to spend a few hours ringing bells and monitoring a donation kettle outside local shops. The Salvation Army also operates an Angel Tree, which allows participants to select cards listing the specific needs of local children and families. An Angel Tree sponsor purchases and wraps the gifts, then returns them to a Salvation Army worker who coordinates delivery to the child in need.
The United States Marine Corps also runs a charity program called “Toys for Tots.” Participants in the Toys for Tots campaign are asked to purchase new toys and donate them to local centers run by Navy reservists. The toys are eventually distributed to children in need through other established charities and local welfare offices.
One popular Christmas charity program is called “Operation Christmas Child,” a shoebox-shaped gift ministry run by Samaritan’s Purse, a charity founded by evangelist Billy Graham’s son Franklin. Individual churches interested in the Operation Christmas Child program can contact Samaritan’s Purse directly for training videos, promotional items, and other necessary materials. Participants get empty shoeboxes or small craft containers and fill them with toys, toiletries, clothes, and school supplies. These boxes are eventually shipped overseas and delivered to the children after a short church service.
Some people may prefer to donate their time or talents to a local charity such as a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. A number of churches also provide meals for those in need on Christmas Day. Many cities have organized volunteer centers that can match a volunteer’s interests and skills with an appropriate program. Even people who enjoy shopping for Christmas gifts can use this skill to buy gifts for local nursing homes or rehab facilities.
Participation in a charitable program should not adversely affect your other personal vacation obligations to friends and family. In fact, some families have been known to choose a suitable charity for Christmas and donate money that would normally have been used for personal gifts. Others agree to volunteer together at a local soup kitchen or church-sponsored Christmas dinner program. Colleagues or friends might also plan to participate in a local program as a way to give back to the community.
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