It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Often times, it can be difficult to think about other families during the holiday season when focused on finding the perfect gift for your own. However, this article is meant to serve as an easily accessible list of charities that could use donations this December to help improve someone else’s Christmas.

Saint Jude – https://www.stjude.org/

Saint Jude is an organization that works to battle childhood cancer. They help make treatment accessible and completely free to all children, regardless of background, economic status, or other factors. Medical information and determined cures from past cases are used to help other children who enter the hospital looking for treatment.

Saint Jude is currently accepting monetary donations as well as volunteers. Volunteers can be tasked with helping with events, calling donors, and/or aiding in administration. Due to the current pandemic, virtual volunteering has also been made available. A virtual volunteer would be spreading awareness about fundraisers over social media or participating in other volunteer jobs from the safety of their own home.

Toys for Tots – https://www.toysfortots.org/Default.aspx

Located near Washington D.C., Toys for Tots donates toys to less fortunate families across the country. It is run through the Marine Corps and works to make every child’s Christmas a joyful experience. This organization strives to unite the community by calling all people to recognize and solve an injustice present in our midst.

Normally, donations can be delivered to a toy drop-off location, but the program has expanded to include contactless donations. Donors can select toys from the “Marine Toys for Tots Virtual Toybox” and personalize the age of the recipient. Toys for Tots also works to improve literacy and academic success for less-fortunate children. Monetary donations can be made through the Toys for Tots Literacy Program. For families with individuals in the military force, donations can be made through their name. Vehicle donations are also accepted.

RSPCA Christmas Rescue – https://www.rspca.org.uk/home

The RSPCA works to improve the treatment of animals in all areas of life including in labs, on farms, in the wild, or in homes. The RSPCA works to stop any harm to animals. This is accomplished by moving the affected animals either to a new home or into the wild. The RSPCA provides free lesson plans and other resources for teachers and parents to access in order to educate the next generation of pet owners. The program “Generation Kind” actively works to cultivate positive emotions towards animals and has been very successful since its launch in 2018.

“Christmas Rescue” works to provide all animals with a warm and safe home this winter. Monetary donations can be made, and volunteers are always accepted. Raising awareness is a crucial part of providing a safe space this holiday season. Donors can also sponsor cat pods or dog kennels. The money raised through sponsorship goes towards veterinary procedures, shelter, food, and other needed provisions.

Capital Area Food Bank – https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/

Capital Area Food Bank works to provide access to food for underprivileged families. The program also notes that just providing meals will not solve global hunger, so it also provides families access to services that led to employment, healthcare, and housing. Capital Area Food Bank also focuses on the quality of the food provided by creating a policy limiting high-sugar donations and a wellness tracker which monitors their inventory. This organization has also helped to source several farms and gardens to help make healthier foods more accessible to all.

Monetary donations are accepted, but this organization also provides several other opportunities for individuals to get involved. Food donations and digital food drives are a great way to collect much-needed supplies. Volunteers can deliver groceries to nearby families, sort donations in the distribution center, work to plant gardens, volunteer at special events, and help distribute food at the Community Marketplace.

There are numerous other organizations that are constantly in need of help. Finding an organization working towards your interests makes the volunteer process more enjoyable while also solving the problem. Due to the pandemic, many families are struggling this Christmas, but the simple act of raising awareness of these charities could be enough to provide a meal for a struggling family, a safe home for an animal, toys for underprivileged households, or much-needed cures for sick children.