Around the Globe, Children Share the Spirit of Giving

Photo: Operation Christmas Child: Children who live at City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City decorated and filled 16 shoe boxes with gifts to give to other needy children.

It is that time of year again; for many the chill of winter has set in, and as we bundle-up with something hot by the fire, we think about giving to others. Regardless of your religious beliefs, the holiday season reminds us to give back to our communities and others in need, especially children.

I wish there were a way we could capture this holiday spirit and keep it going all year long. In the hopes that these accounts will inspire you to do just that, I thought I would share a few stories of children who have gone above and beyond the general spirit of giving:

Recognizing their power and potential to make a difference in the lives of others, more than 113,000 kids and teens joined generationOn and pledged their commitment to service, ensuring a donation of more than $1 million in toys and games from Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) to Toys for Tots.  As a result of these commitments to serve, tens of thousands of children across the country will now have the opportunity to experience the joy of play this holiday season (PR Newwire).

15 year-old Kaci Bowman, has been giving back to children in all over the world for years through Operation Christmas Child (OCC), a program of Samaritan’s Purse International Relief organization. ‘This year, Bowman collected 162 shoeboxes full of small gifts and personal hygiene products…’ and then traveled to Denver to help sort and organize gift boxes for children in Mexico and Haiti (The Norwood Post).

Kindergarten students made four large gingerbread houses during the school’s holiday parties and donated them to the Defenders of Freedom Veterans Home & Shelter (The Registered Mail).

Honor roll fifth-graders at Village Academy in Delray Beach are receiving hand-painted TOMS Shoes donated by students at Saint Andrews School in Boca Raton. Saint Andrews fifth-graders painted the shoes, provided by a parent donor in association with Sound Tree Entertainment to supply needy children at home and abroad with shoes (Palm Beach Post).

Middle School students team up to fulfill 50 Angel Tree wishes (Daily Gleaner).

Girl Scout Troop 20379 and Brownie Troop 20049 at Clinton School are helping to feed 15 kids in three families over the 10-day holiday break (South Orange Patch).

10 Great Philanthropists Who are Kids was published in January of this year and provides 10 unique and inspiring stories of children giving selflessly to those in need.

Don’t under estimate the power of youth; children can have a powerful and lasting impact on the lives of other children and our world. There are many ways that children can get involved and make a difference. Think outside the box; never be afraid to think too big; remember that even small efforts can make a big impact. Volunteer opportunities for adolescents aren’t difficult to find, and one of the best places to start is with your school, local place of worship, or service groups. There are a number of youth centric organizations, such as Kids Can Make A Difference, that also help children and teens find ways to serve both local and international communities and find causes.

Encouraging children to do volunteer work is one of the most important things you can do for them as a parent or leader, and the best part is teenagers love to volunteer! Students who do volunteer work actually do better in school than those who don’t volunteer. In fact, volunteering provides many benefits for teens, it increases self-esteem, creates a sense of value, presents an opportunity to meet new people, leads to the acquisition of valuable new skills, not to mention the amazing memories these opportunities will create. When teenagers serve others, they become empowered; they learn that they can make a difference in the world and are already investing in the future. It is the fuel they need to be the best leaders of tomorrow.

Here are a few ideas of ways children can get involved and give to other children around the globe:

1. Grow and donate your hair to Locks of Love and help a child in the United States or Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis, get a hairpiece.
2. Visit your local hospital children’s ward, or send drawings and letters of encouragement to children who are suffering from illness or trauma at home or overseas.
3. Collect stuffed animals for local police and rescue personal to give to children who have suffered a tragedy.
4. Make jewelry, or other arts and craft items, to sell and fundraise for your favorite cause.  You can even use items that are already helping those in need like, Paper to Pearls.
5. Hold a concert or play and donate all of your ticket and concession sales to charity.
6. Organize a community yard sale and donate all the money to help children in need overseas, such as AIDS orphans, children affected by conflict or natural disaster, to provide needed childhood immunizations.
7. Ask your school, church, sports team, or scout group to adopt a cause or charity for the year and then host a series of fundraisers such as bake and rummage sales, donation drives, etc.
8. Volunteer at your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen.
9. Collect donated school supplies and backpacks for kids in need around the world.
10. Organize your friends to donate your gently used toys and books then take them to local homeless shelters.
11. Use your talents and interests in a creative way to help others!  Don’t forget the biggest impact you can have is often spreading awareness of the issues children in need have across the globe. So start a blog, host film screenings and spread the word about your causes.

Keep up the spirit of volunteering and share it with your friends and family. You can make a world of difference just by setting an example.  If you have a story of a special child activist or philanthropist, please share in the comments section, for the spirit of giving is truly contagious!
Links to organizations established by, or for, kids:

Resources for Children and Young Adults
JustGive.org Kids Corner – Learn about kids making a difference
Just Give – 50 Ways to Help Children
Starlight’s StarPower program -showcase’s young people working to help other kids.
Children Helping Children – International Musical Charity, holding In-Hospital Concerts and Gala Benefit Concerts
Kids Helping Kids with Nothing
Kids Helping Kids Heal 
Kids Helping Kids
Project Linus New Jersey – Providing handmade blankets and handcrafted toys to children suffering serious illness and trauma.
The Loose Change to Loosen Chains Campaign
Families with Purpose – Community Service Projects
PBS Kids Zoom Team – You can you help the world.