We have received emails from people asking how to help children this holiday season. Our suggestion is to contact your local shelter to ask about donating toys. Sometimes families are forced to flee to a shelter right before Christmas. This almost always guarantees a last minute toy crunch.
When a family comes in at the last minute, staff will scramble to find toys and some will buy things out of their own pocket. We have known advocates and staff to make Christmas smaller for their own family because of a last minute need. No one wants a child who believes in Santa to wake up without a toy.
Donating funds or gift cards to a shelter may be another way to help. There is one thing about designating funds. Please specify that the gift can be used to fund general operating expenses if it is not fully used to purchase toys. Shelters need electricity, water, household items and staff salaries. These are often funded through the gifts of people like you and me.
Contacting your local shelter is the best way to find out what the needs are and how to help.
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