Ways to Give This Holiday Season! ? Super NOVA Mommy

by?Kelly Ralston

If you are looking for some ways to teach your children about the importance of giving back this holiday, please take a look at some of the opportunities below. ?

I have a 19 month old daughter, Alessandra, who I thought would be too young to participate this year.? After doing a little research, I look forward to completing a few of the activities below with her, and then continuing to do them year after year.?

?

Be An Elf ? www.Beanelf.org

Answer a letter to Santa written by a child in need.? You can choose any letter/letters you wish off the website and send a gift through the USPS Operation Santa Program (available at 900 Brentwood Rd, Washington DC Post Office).? Donations can also be made on the website.

?

Casey Cares Foundation, Kami?s Jammies ? http://www.caseycaresfoundation.org/index.cfm

Enhancing the lives of critically ill children, the Casey Cares Foundation realizes that children on extended stays in hospitals need something special.? Inspired by a girl who battled leukemia, pajamas were given to replace hospital gowns.? This group provides themed pajama parties to patients at hospitals such as the Children?s Hospital at University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins Children?s Hospital, and Georgetown University Hospital.? This group also accepts monetary donations and provides many special services for these children.? (Recently, I donated ?My Gym? open play passes and Casey Cares was able to give them to a child who would enjoy them!)

?

FACETS ? http://facetscares.org/

A non-profit organization that helps Fairfax families find housing.? They are holding a monthly Youth Volunteer Night on December 18^th from 5:30-6:30, or you can help organize gift donations December 14-21.? (A great family opportunity!)

?

Food For Others -? http://www.foodforothers.org/documents/FoodDriveP3PlanningKit_002.pdf

Host a Power Pack (P3) party and create kits that hungry local children can bring home over the weekend containing 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, 2 snacks, and drinks and deliver to the Food for Others warehouse.? Even young children can help stuff the bags!

?

The Fund for Alexandria?s Child, Holiday Sharing Drive -? http://alexandriava.gov/TheFundForAlexChild

Sponsor a Family, Senior Citizen, Disabled Individual, or Foster Child.? You can volunteer to purchase items off a family?s wish list, which may include anything from jackets and toys to household items.? Volunteers are also needed for Family Gift Distribution at the DCHS Center, December 10th-12th.

?

Kohls ? https://www.facebook.com/kohls

?Like? their facebook page between Nov. 23 and Dec. 24, and they will donate 1$ to Toys for Tots, (up to $500,000).? It takes less than a minute and it?s for a great cause!

?

My Stuff Bags Foundation ? http://www.mystuffbags.org/

Imagine children who are removed from abusive homes with only the clothing on their body.? This foundation provides each child with a blanket and stuffed animals in their own personal bag.? You can mail blankets and other items, or donate monetarily over the internet.

?

Northern Virginia Training Center ? http://www.nvtc.dbhds.virginia.gov/Events.shtml

The Northern Virginia Training Center on Braddock Road, in Fairfax, is a residential training center to serve people with intellectual disabilities.? There are two events in December that require volunteers to help escort non-ambulatory individuals to and from their home to a holiday event (residences and events are both on the same campus).? They are also seeking items such as electronics, arts and crafts supplies, clothing, pillows and sheets, books, musical instruments, etc.

?

Our Daily Bread Holiday Program ? http://www.odbfairfax.org/Holiday

This group provides food and gifts to those in need in the Fairfax Area.? Register by December 7^th to sponsor a family.

?

The Reading Connection ? http://thereadingconnection.org/home

The Reading Connection is a local organization that reads bedtime stories to children in shelters.? They also provide books to these children so they may start a small library of their own.? You and your child can pick up a few books while shopping and donate them (there is a list of requested books on the website, but I?m sure all donations are welcome!)

?

Ronald McDonald House ? www.rmhc.greaterdc.org

Collect soda can tabs in your home (cute collectors are available from the Ronald McDonald House), or be a guest chef!? You and your child (14+) can plan and prepare a meal for the families at the Ronald McDonald House (bring groceries and prepare it on site).? Contact:? Barbara@rmhcdc.org or (703) 698-7080 ? Located at Fairfax INOVA Hospital on Gallows Road.

?

Shelter House, Inc. -? http://www.shelterhouse.org/Get-Involved/Donate-Items.html

A program to end homelessness, this group provides shelters in Falls Church and Fairfax.? The website has a wish list of donation items and also provides links to other places accepting donations.? Another idea is to create snack lunches (granola bars, pudding, juice?and don?t forget the spoon).? Have your child write a short note on a napkin and keep them in your car for those less fortunate this holiday season.

?

Toys for Tots Northern Virginia -? http://quantico-va.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx

Toys For Tots is a nationally renowned charity with a fantastic holiday program that most of us are familiar with.? Bring an unwrapped toy to one of the designated locations (most Toys R? Us stores in our area,) and the United States Marine Corps will donate that toy to a local child in need.

Source: http://www.supernovamommy.com/2012/12/04/ways-to-give-this-holiday-season/

eric church world trade center quick silver where have you been rihanna kirk cousins mothers day ovechkin