By Christine Barrett
Every year, many of us ask our loved ones the same
question, “What would you like for Christmas?”
The Holidays are no doubt an exciting time for children, who often have
long lists of the toys they want. For
me, I’ve noticed that as I’ve gotten older, the joy of giving far outweighs the
joy of receiving.
While it’s true that many have struggled throughout the
Great Recession, the truth is that most of us probably are not forced to do
without the basic necessities of life.
There comes a time when the term “giving back” becomes more meaningful,
and the upcoming month of December seems to embody the spirit of giving.
So, perhaps instead of buying yet another pair of
slippers for your in-laws, or some other item that may eventually end up in
your basement or garage, here is a list of 31 ways to give a different kind of
gift next month. The list is compiled from articles we’ve read and research
we’ve done. There’s a thoughtful way to
give back for each day in December.
Donate on December 1
Your tax-deductible donation to Wounded Warrior Project®
helps thousands of injured warriors returning from the battlefield and helps
provide assistance to their families.
www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Donate on December 2
Save a pet. A gift of $50 to animaladvocatesalliance.org
bails a dog or cat out of a high-kill shelter and provides vet care and
medicine to help it get healthy for adoption.
Donate on December 3
Teach Gen Next. A full 67 million children worldwide
aren’t attending elementary classes today. Just $25 to pencilsofpromise.org
sends one child to a new school in a developing country for 78 days; $118
covers an entire year.
Donate on December 4
Thousands are dead and more than 11 million people are
suffering in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Phillipines. Your donation will help provide food, shelter
and the basic necessities for the survivors of this horrendous storm. Make a donation at www.care.org/donate.
Donate on December 5
Donate your old cell phone to the National Coalition
Against Domestic Violence (ncadv.org), which will refurbish and sell it, then
use the proceeds to get survivors back on their feet.
Donate on December 6
Trout Unlimited works to keep America's rivers and
streams clean, healthy and fishable for generations to come. Make sure that happens by donating at
www.tu.org/get-involved/donate.
Donate on December 7
Pick up the grocery tab for a senior. Some 3.5 million
Americans over age 50 don’t have enough to eat; $8 to drivetoendhunger.org
feeds one of them healthy meals for a day.
Donate on December 8
Give the gift of Honeybees. Your donation of $30 will provide a family
with a package of bees, the box and hive, plus training in beekeeping. This will help families from Uganda to Haiti
earn income through the sale of honey, beeswax and pollen. www.heifer.org
Donate on December 9
The National Rifle Association (NRA) is dedicated to
preserving your freedom under the Second Amendment. Show your support by donating at
membership.nrahq.org
Donate on December 10
Provide clean H20. Your gift of $30 to wellsbringhope.org
gives one villager in West Africa access to safe water and good sanitation for
more than 30 years, drastically reducing child mortality.
Donate on December 11
Help women get free mammograms. Just click the pink
button at thebreastcancersite.com. Last year they funded a whopping 2,112
screenings for needy American women.
Donate on December 12
Shop for art’s sake. Heart of Haiti gifts ($10 to $120)
at macys.com provide steady work for many Haitians.
Donate on December 13
Send a teddy bear to the child of a deployed marine. For
$25, jonathancollins.org gives a plush toy with a voice message recorded by the
parent, which will play when the paw is pressed.
Donate on December 14
The Heritage Foundation promotes conservative public
policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government,
individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
Support the cause today by donating at usconservatives.about.com.
Donate on December 15
In just about any dresser drawer, one can find a pair of
eyeglasses that are no longer being used. That same pair of eyeglasses can
change another person's life. Find out how you can help, www.lionsclubs.org.
Donate on December 16
Coupon for a cause. Here’s a win-win: At causeon.com you
get deals on everything from scrapbooks to luxurious spa services, and 20
percent of the site’s proceeds goes to a variety of charities in your
community.
Donate on December 17
Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands and
waterfowl conservation. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people.
Your donation will help conserve and protect endangered wetlands throughout
North America. Make a donation at www.ducks.org.
Donate on December 18
Prevent blindness. Buy Toms glasses ($135 and up,
toms.com) and give someone in Asia sight-saving treatment.
Donate on December 19
Give the jobless a leg up—with a pair of slacks or other
office clothes you no longer wear. Careergear.org coaches down-on-their-luck
men on how to land a job and loans them the attire to ace the interview.
Donate on December 20
Founded in 1839, the Georgia Historical Society is the
oldest continuously operating state historical society in the South and one of
the oldest historical organizations in the nation. The institution is dedicated
to collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia history. Help to make sure that our grandchildren know
about our State’s rich history by donating at
www.georgiahistory.com/donate-now.
Donate on December 21
Buy a counseling session for a soldier returning home
after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan with your $17 donation to giveanhour.org.
Donate on December 22
$50 will buy a dairy goat which is a lasting, meaningful
way for you to help a child on the other side of the world. Donate at www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com.
Donate on December 23
Pass on the books that you’ve already read to
globalliteracyproject.org, which will get books to deprived youth, helping them
learn to read.
Donate on December 24
Stop bullying—for good. Laura and Kirk Smalley lost their
tormented son, Ty, 11, to suicide; $25 dollars to standforthesilent.org helps
them speak to student groups and prevent more deaths.
Donate on December 25
The Heritage Foundation promotes conservative public
policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government,
individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
Support the cause today by donating at usconservatives.about.com.
Donate on December 26
Make a difference in your zip code. Volunteermatch.org
connects you with ways to improve your neighborhood, like working at a food
bank, clowning around with seniors and coaching a girls’ soccer team.
Donate on December 27
Millions of families in America don’t have enough food.
Children go to bed hungry. Parents wonder where their child’s next meal will
come from. Your donation of $20 will provide $100 in food for these hungry
families. www.feedthechildren.org
Donate on December 28
Care for a chimp orphaned or harmed by poachers. Just $10
to janegoodall.org buys 22 pounds of food at the renowned primatologist’s
clinic in the Republic of Congo.
Donate on December 29
Help women in war-torn countries start a business: $25
buys one woman a sewing kit so she can earn a living as a tailor. Go to
womenforwomen.org.
Donate on December 30
Start a reading chain. Guatemala has the highest
illiteracy rate in Central America; $10 to readingvillage.org helps pay school
fees for rural teen leaders, who in turn teach younger children to read.
Donate on December 31
Help the dreams of a child with a life threatening
medical condition come true. The
Make-A-Wish Foundation does just that.
Continue spreading holiday cheer into the New Year by making a child
smile. Make your donation at
wish.org/ways-to-help/giving/donate.
