The joy of giving can be found during any time you choose to give. But, during the holiday season, make that joy even brighter. It is a time when we get to really see the fruits of our labor. Whether we are giving presents to the less fortunate, donating books to a school, helping an organization with meals, or volunteering at the food bank.
We have already mentioned a few places to give to during this holiday season. The shoebox drop offs are wrapping up this year, but there are still ways to give online. You can visit the Operation Christmas Child at www.samaritanspurse.org and find out how you can still pack a shoebox online to give to a child this holiday season. If you have sent a box, there are ways to follow where your box went as well. And there are directions and tips on how to host your own party so you can start prepping for next year.
In this issue, you will find the Salvation Army Giving Tree information. There is also Toys for Tots. You can find your local chapter at www.toysfortots.org. Both of these organizations have year-round outreach you can be a part of, but they do special things for the holidays. And don’t forget to check in with your local food bank or the Rio Grande Valley Food Bank. Visit their websites to find out how you can make some children happy this season.
Another great resource to find out where you can serve, is www.justserve.org. On this website, you can search your city and find organizations near you that need an extra hand this season. Searching up McAllen, 16 results come up. Those include Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization that delivers beds to needy families; Mercy Chefs at FUMC need help preparing 2,400 meals per day; Mujeres Unidas ongoing cleaning effort; hurricane relief efforts; helping refugees; making blankets; building wheelchair ramps; and several more.
Another big one this season, that you can go online to help, or take a drive to San Antonio (and check out the Christmas Lights and the Missions while you are there), is the Light the World Giving Machine. You can share the Christmas spirit by visiting the Giving Machine now through December 8 at the Historic Pearl, 312 Pearl Parkway. Every dollar you donate goes directly to help people in need.
What’s really neat about this machine is that you can donate specific items that are needed. There are cards in the machine, just like you would have in any vending machine, and it drops to the bottom when you purchase it. Last year, $107k was donated to local charities. Some of the items you can donate include hygiene kits, developmental toys, or even a goat. San Antonio charities include the Food Bank, Wish for Our Heroes, Alamo Head Injury Association, Vibrant Works, and Catholic Charities of San Antonio.
You can find out more about The Giving Machine by visiting www.TexasGivingMachine.org. There are other locations throughout Texas you can choose from if you are doing any traveling to see Christmas lights and festivities.
