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There’s something about this time of year that gives me the warm and fuzzies and I just want to give back because I realize how much I truly have. While the Salvation Army Angel Tree is one of my favorite philanthropic endeavors each year, there are plenty of ways for those of us in The District to get into the giving spirit.
I know I mentioned it in my post yesterday as a fun event, but don’t forget that the first ever Winter Glam Wonderland actually has a philanthropic backbone! Proceeds from this event will go towards helping My Sister’s Place DC, providing safe and confidential shelter to battered women and children. They will also be collecting donation items for the shelter, each guest to bring a donation for the shelter will receive a FREE drink ticket for a glass of champagne. Please refer to the list on the event page to see appropriate items for donation!
It’s no secret that I think Street Sense is one of DC’s best programs for the homeless. In a nutshell, it allows DC’s most vulnerable citizens to start their own micro-businesses selling Street Sense papers, while giving them access to needed services. They accept monetary donations, but they are also in need of office supplies!
Kendall and I attended St. John’s Episcopal Church in Georgetown this past Sunday and we loved it! It reminded us a lot of my St. John’s in Olney, Maryland where I grew up. We were warmly welcomed and plan on attending services regularly. They have a whole slew of ministries, and we were particularly interested in the Grate Patrol: Between services on the 2nd Sunday of every month families volunteer to make sandwiches for 150 suppers. On Monday, suppers are packed by parishioners who then staff the Salvation Army’s Grate Patrol Van to feed those in need on downtown Capitol streets.
I love the whole idea of the SOME’s (So Others Might Eat) annual Holiday Shoebox Gift Drive, but you actually only have until tomorrow to get those in if you’re interested so you gotta go fast! I want to do one next year! SOME also relies on food donations to serve more than 400,000 meals to hungry men, women and children each year. Organizing a food drive in your office, school, faith community or other location is a wonderful way to help people in need on special holidays and throughout the year.
Central Union Mission will supply Christmas gifts to over one thousand underprivileged children and youth. When you sign-up for Operation Christmas Miracle, you will receive the name of a child and a suggested gift list of toys to make the season brighter for a needy family. As a token of appreciation, you will receive a note of thanks and photos from the gift distribution event. Gifts will be collected through December 15, 2016. For additional information, email Christmas@missiondc.org.
If you’re involved with any kind of house of worship or school, there is bound to be some way you can give back. I am truly inspired by my own mother who “adopted” one of the kids from her classroom. It breaks my heart to think that there are men, women, and children who may not have warm things for winter, much less Christmas presents. Do you have a favorite way to give back to your community?
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This is definitely the time to be charitable and give what you can, there are always so many institutions and charities that promote campaigns this time of the year
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