27 November 2014

Happy Holidays for the Children (December 2014)

Folks who know me may find it odd that I would advocate for children's causes.  I'm not super fond of kids as company and generally try to steer clear of them.  That doesn't mean I don't remember what it was like to be a kid, though.  When Christmastime comes around, it brings up the best memories of my childhood.  That's why I would love to help kids have the best holiday season possible by advocating for some great children's charities this December!

My local Christmas Tree lighting. The hosting venue supports Toys for Tots.

 

Save the Children

This highly-rated, international children's charity supports virtually every facet of a happy, healthy childhood.  From education to emergency response, supporting health and fighting hunger, they pretty much do it all, not only in the US, but in 120 countries across the globe.  You can support their efforts any time by making a monetary donation.  Just go to their website, www.savethechildren.org, and hover over the "Make a Donation" button at the top.  If you're interested in making your donation count towards a specific cause (or get some neat branded goodies), check out their gift catalogue: gift.savethechildren.org/

For the holiday season, Save the Children is promoting their Make the World Better with a Sweater campaign. Basically, it's an Ugly Christmas Sweater party with a purpose (though you can participate all by your onesies, too!).  Check out the link to learn more about this fun holiday fundraising event!  You can also check out the Studio Mikarts fundraising page to make a donation towards our $50 goal for this campaign!

Toys for Tots

If you want to get really holiday oriented in your support of children's happiness, consider donating to Toys for Tots.  This foundation is actually run by the US Marine Corps and has received many accolades over the years for being a quality nonprofit.  This annual toy drive is supported by a wide range of corporations and individuals, which speaks to the cause's value.  Personally, I've heard some people nay-say Toys for Tots because 'toys aren't important' but I couldn't disagree more.  Children need the basics, yes, but they also need stimulation and entertainment.  They need to feel special and they need to play!  There's no better way to provide those essential elements of childhood to disadvantaged kids than to donate a toy or game at a local Toys for Tots drop-off station (unwrapped and brand new toys only) or by making a donation at their website: http://www.toysfortots.org/donate

Local Drives and Charities

There are many options to help children in your local community.  Here where I am, there are annual coat drives, food drives, charity marathons and baseball games, all kinds of small events hosted by local individuals, businesses, and teams.  It can be difficult to pin down all of the events that are going on, especially in the general hustle-bustle of the holiday season, but here are some places you can check to discover local charity events to support the health and happiness of children near you:
  • Local TV or Radio Station Websites
  • Your City's Website and/or Community Calendar
  • Flyers at Your Favorite Shops and Restaurants
  • Local Newspapers and Classifieds

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Whether you choose to support Studio Mikarts' fundraising campaign for Save the Children, donate a cool toy at a Toys for Tots location, or participate in a local children's charity event this holiday season, you can feel good knowing you're part of the larger effort to bring health and happiness to little ones around the world.  What a great way to ring out 2014!