Charities to donate to at Christmas time

Christmas is a time when most people are feeling generous. Many charities are asking for donations. It is not possible to donate to all of them; you have to decide which ones are the best fit for you and which ones support causes in which you really believe.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army was founded by William Booth in the mid-19th century. He walked through the poorest of London’s neighborhoods to bring the word of Jesus to those in the most need. He was unconventional and that brought him into conflict with more conventional religious leaders of the day. His followers were the dregs of society, prostitutes, and drunkards.

Today, the Salvation Army still serves those who are most in need through all of its many outreach programs. They are one of the most visible charities during the Christmas season when their kettles are common sights at most shopping centers and major stores. Whether you decide to make a substantial donation or just drop your spare change into the kettle you can be sure that it will go to a good cause. During the holidays, the Salvation Army provides Christmas dinners and gifts to those who are in need. Volunteers will go out into hospitals and nursing homes with gifts and they have many shelters where there will be a full-course Christmas dinner served. 

Ronald McDonald House Charities

It is always terrible to have a sick child and even more so during the holidays. One of the things that Ronald McDonald House Charities does is to provide a place for families to stay together when one of the children is receiving treatment for an illness or injury. The housing is offered for little or no cost and accommodates the entire family including other children.

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

Christmas is all about children and so is St. Jude’s. Founded by Danny Thomas in 1962, the entertainer’s daughter Marlo is still very active in promoting the facility. St, Jude is the patron saint of hopeless causes and many of the children that come here have cancer that before the founding of St. Jude’s would have been hopeless. The research that the hospital has done, especially in the area of leukemia, has made many forms of this disease not only treatable but curable. If you love children and want to give to a charity that offers hope to families with a very sick child, this is the perfect place to make a donation.

 There is hunger all over the world and even in rich and modern countries, there are families who are going to bed on an empty stomach. As you are considering what you will be serving at your Christmas celebration, consider those in need right in your own area. Pick up an extra one of all the items that you will be serving as well as a bag of non-perishable food items and drop them off at the local food bank or church which may have a food pantry.

Christmas is one of the most giving times of the year. There are many charities which need your help. Choose one or choose several and share the bounty that you have enjoyed this year. Even if you don’t have a lot, sharing a little is a great way to really enjoy the true spirit of Christmas.