Are you interested in helping children in need experience a little holiday magic this season? There are plenty of deserving local charities that could use a hand right now. If you’re able to donate toys or food, or wish to make a financial contribution, here are several local organizations with opportunities to “adopt” a family or donate to kids who could greatly benefit from community support and generosity.
— Operation Blue Santa
This annual toy drive event needs help to provide gift cards for toys and food to over 6,000 local families. Visit bluesanta.org to make a monetary donation to kids in need or you can add a donation to any Chuy’s online order placed at order.chuys.com. They are also hosting opportunities to meet Blue Santa & Mrs. Claus at designated Schlotzsky’s during December.
Photo from Operation Blue Santa’s Facebook page from 2019 Distribution Day.
— SAFE Alliance Holiday Wish Lists
The SAFE Alliance serves the survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and exploitation, and domestic violence. SAFE Austin serves hundreds of youth, adults, and families during the holiday season, and your help is needed to grant thousands of wishes to local families. You can sponsor a family or make a donation as part of their SAFE Holiday giving program for 2020. Gift delivery is December 6-8. If you are unable to deliver on these dates, please consider participating in SAFE Shelves shopping or email [email protected] to join the last-minute wishlist listserv.
— Brown Santa
This program provides toys and holiday food boxes specifically to families with children ages 14 & younger who live outside of the Austin city limits, but within the unincorporated areas of Travis County. You can donate new, unwrapped age-appropriate toys and unopened non-perishable food as well as monetary donations. See the suggested donation items, and view the donation drop-off locations. Donations are requested by December 18. Volunteers are also needed at their warehouse. Click here for more information.
— Salvation Army Austin Angel Tree Program
Help struggling families in Travis and Williamson counties by adopting up to 10 children and/or seniors via the organization’s website. You can sign up on their website to be paired with a child by age group to see specific wishes for gifts, toys and clothing. Once you have adopted and shopped for your Angel, you will need to drop off your gifts at one of these locations by December 5. However, if you can’t make this deadline, you can also easily shop online for toys on their Amazon registry or make a monetary donation on their website.
— Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a national nonprofit that collects new, unwrapped toys to distribute as Christmas gifts to children in the community. In 2019, the local outlet of this organization served 20,033 Austin children. You can help by donating a toy at one of many drop-off sites by December 12, make a financial donation online, or get involved as a volunteer.
— Partnerships for Children’s Holiday Wishes Program
Many of the Central Texas children who are in the care of Child Protective Services during the holiday season have their lives recently turned upside down. Your help can provide them with holiday gifts. Sponsors receive a child’s name, age, clothing size and wishes. Note that gifts must be dropped off at the warehouse by December 11, or you can make a monetary donation online any time.
— Central Texas Food Bank
Central Texas Food Bank has a variety of ways for others to give back including, gifting a donation in honor of a friend or family member and donating at the checkout at local stores such as Target and Sprouts. Click here to read their 10 Easy Ways to Make a Difference this Holiday Season.
Photo from the Central Texas Food Bank’s Facebook page.
— Coats for Kids
Each year, The Junior League of Austin, Jack Brown Cleaners, 98.1 KVET, and KVUE partner to bring the community together to ensure that the children of Central Texas stay warm in the winter by collecting and distributing warm coats to eligible children and teenagers in Central Texas. They are currently collecting new and gently used coats through December 9. If you would like to donate a coat, please drop it off at any Jack Brown Cleaners location. You can also make online donation in which every $20 buys a new coat.
— Sponsor a Family: Austin Child Guidance Center
ACGC will match you with a family and let you make the holiday magic happen. Each family will have an online profile where you can securely donate. Fifty percent of the total will go directly to the family in gift cards to allow them to do stress-free holiday shopping and fifty percent will be used to offset the cost of ACGC services for the family. Learn more.
Of course, this is just a small number of ways you can give back in Austin this season. No matter where you choose to donate or how you spread some love — thank you for doing good in our local community!
