Don’t Be a Scrooge!
Posted by John Malloy on 12/20/2009
Step up and fill the gap this season. The Daily Beast finds 20 last minute ways to give back, from donating your frequent flier miles to helping teachers buy classroom supplies.
1. Answer a Child’s Letter to Santa
How it works: If you’re too old to write wishful letters to Santa Claus but miss taking part in this childhood tradition, tryOperation Letters to Santa, and find out if your local post office is collecting letters bound for the North Pole. If so, you can write back to a child in need or fulfill his or her modest gift request. Even if the surprise arrives a few days after Christmas, we bet the letter-writer will still be thrilled.
Who it helps: Needy kids.
Contact: U.S. Postal Service
Getty Images2. Keep Someone Warm
How it works: The holidays may be filled with warm wishes, but that doesn’t mean some aren’t left out in the cold. Donate a coat to those in need. One Warm Coat lets you look up where and when to donate in your area. Burlington Coat Factory stores, for example, are accepting donations until Jan. 15. Charities such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries are also happy to take your old jackets, in addition to any other unneeded clothing.
Who it helps: Anyone in need of warm clothing in your community.
Contact: One Warm Coat, The Salvation Army
3. Donate Your Frequent Flyer Miles
How it works: Feeling like you don’t have the extra cash to spare this holiday giving season? Try donating your frequent flyer miles. Various charities, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Red Cross, Hero Miles, and Project Concern accept them all year round. And if you know you won’t be traveling before those miles expire, this is a great way to unload them for a good cause.
Who it helps: Children of Make-A-Wish, Red Cross volunteers, military service members and their families, global health workers.
Contact: Make-A-Wish, Red Cross, Fisher House: Helping Military Families, Project Concern
David McNew / Getty Images4. Put Food on the Table
How it works: Before you sit down to feast on your holiday meal, consider dropping off some nonperishable items, such as hot cereal mixes or beans, at your local food bank. Feeding America lets you look up local food banks serving your area. The Hunger Site goes global and makes giving even easier–all you have to do is click on the Web site and sponsors are ready to donate cups of food.
Who it helps: The 1.02 billion people facing hunger worldwide, including 25 million low-income Americans.
Contact: Feeding America, The Hunger Site
AP Photo5. Help a Child Play
How it works: Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys and then distributes them as gifts to children in need. It’s too late to drop off a toy at Toys R Us, but you can donate money to the organization year round to support their toy collection and distribution program.
Who it helps: Low-income kids and their families, who can’t afford gifts.
Contact: Toys for Tots
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Posted by
John Malloy
on 12/20/2009. Filed under
International.
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