For many, Christmas is the season for charitable giving. Fortunately, there are many organizations, charities, churches, and faith-based organizations that work with the community to support children, elderly people, single mothers, disabled people, low-income families, and many other groups in need.
What is available will depend on donations and volunteer efforts so check out this list of ways you can provide holiday assistance this season.
Holiday Charitable Programs & Nonprofits
If you’re looking to give back this holiday season, here are some Orange County organizations that are seeking your assistance.
- Advance OC
- Christmas is for Sharing (Assistance League of Orange)
- County of Orange Operation Senior Santa & Friends
- Hope for the Holidays
- OC Family Justice Center Adopt-a-Family
- OC Second Harvest Food Bank
- Salvation Army Orange County
- Churches & Faith-based Organizations – Inquire at your local church or organization
Christmas Charities That Help Children
Many social service agencies and nonprofit organizations have specific Christmas and holiday programs aimed at assisting children. Here are some national and Orange County charities with Christmas assistance programs for children.
- Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)
- County of Orange Operation Santa Clause
- Families Forward
- Make-A-Wish
- Marine Toys for Tots
- Moms Orange County Family & Holiday Giving
- OCFA Toy Drive
- Operation Christmas Child
- Operation Christmas Spirit
- Orangewood Children’s Home
- Pathways of Hope
- Pay Away
- The Priority Center
- Ronald McDonald House of Orange County
- Salvation Army’s Angel Tree
- Soldier’s Angels
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- Think Together
- Waymakers Adopt a Family
Faith Based & Church Assistance
Many local churches collect donations, have adopt-a-Family programs, and provide food, clothing, and/or toys for children, single mothers, disabled people, low-income families, and seniors. Many have specific programs to help fellow parishioners who are in need or the community at large. Inquire at your local church (or any church) on how you can volunteer or donate.
Christmas Volunteer & Donation Ideas
There are so many ways to be charitable with holiday donations, Christmas giving, volunteering for Christmas charities, or doing good deeds during the holiday season. Here are some of many ways to give back during the holiday season.
- Help a needy family
- Find a local nonprofit
- Visit Your local Humane Society
- Donate items at a women’s shelter
- Send Christmas cards to military personnel
- Cook and feed the homeless
- Drop off donations at a local charity
- Make blankets to drop off at animal or homeless shelters
- Pay away the layaway at local department store or toy store
- Do a random act of kindness
- Deliver food through Meals on Wheels, FoodFinders, or Advance OC
- Serve food at a food shelter or help at a food bank
- Donate your time and specific skills to a local charity
- Pay it forward at a drive-thru
- Be extra generous with gratuities
- Shop at a non-profit thrift store
- Offer to babysit for a single parent
- Participate in an Adopt-A-Family program
- Visit a local pediatric wing or donate to the children there
- Donate your airline miles or hotel or credit card points
- Run for a good cause
- Donate to bell ringers and bins
- Visit a nursing or veteran home
- Organize a food or toy drive for your business, church, group or community
- Donate:
- Holiday foods (cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy mix, dessert mixes, canned pumpkin, etc.)
- Clothing, caps, socks, & diapers for infants and toddlers
- Toys for children
- Video game consoles to children in hospitals
- Jackets, coats, sleeping bags, and blankets
- Blood, hair
- Drop off used items at non-profit thrift store
- Pick from a wish list
- Money, gift cards
- Planned giving: bequest or legacy gift
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