does anyone work personally with any nashville based orphanages/donation centers/organizations ? or have any helpful info? i’m inquiring because this winter I’m looking to set up a big donation & want to handle it one-on-one, meeting the kids & buying the gifts to bring instead of just giving money or toys to a random place or church that accepts them & hoping they get distributed.
email me at mindywhite@myspace.com
“m-pain” hahaha… just having fun last night. aaaand wasting time that we should have been actually WORKING… but how can i pass the opportunity to be t-pain for a second?!
barlights:ohkillersmile: this is twice now (lydia cover) - justin richards
dinner date with mom at tacobell. when you got a craving, you got a craving
So as my fingers curl,
I move my lips just so you won’t have to.
Damnit you clever girl,
your style is keeping us from sleep.
Christmas is just around the corner...
And it’s never too early to get festive & start giving! Many families and children struggle to have a good Christmas. And even before then, it’s cold outside NOW and some could use extra blankets/coats/boots that you may have already or could pitch in for. There are tons of cheap and FREE ways to help.
If you’re not sure where to start…
Charities and Organizations
Contact your local charities and organizations to find out about their outreach to the needy during Christmastime. Offers are usually year round, accepting extra food, baskets, clothes, shoes, toys, and emergency assistance during the holidays.
Salvation ArmyFind out if there is a Salvation Army in your area. The Salvation Army will often help with toy vouchers, food, clothing vouchers and other means. Their classic bell ringers collect donations to help the needy, and they put these donations to good use providing Christmas help for low income families. So next time you pass one of those people, take a second to give them your spare change :)
Christmas toy driveKeep an eye out for local toy drives and food drives. Most stores and malls contribute to them, and you could buy a little something while you’re doing your OWN SHOPPING and just put the gift in the charity toy bin before you leave!
Visiting Retirement Facilities and Nursing Homes
Many people at Retirement facilities and Nursing homes don’t have family to come and visit them and bring them holiday cheer. Just stopping in and spending a little bit of time with them means more than you can even imagine! If you’re feeling really giving, bake some goodies, or some gifts to give to them when you come!
Letters to Santa
It’s something so small and almost free, and might mean the most to kids this holiday. You can go to http://www.santasheart.org/ and it only takes a tiny bit of your time and it’s so fun being creative and writing letters pretending to be Santa. Just remember what you would have thought as a kid if you recieved a letter back from Santa!
Humane Societies & Animal Hospitals
They can ALWAYS use your help with any donations, and free volunteer work with cleaning, walking, helping look for lost pets, etc.
Churches
Inquire at your church, asking the pastor or community outreach coordinator about receiving assistance for your family or a needy family you know. If your church is collecting food items or toys for Christmas giving, ask if you qualify to be a recipient. Basket of breadLook up your local food bank and find out the requirements to receive food and produce through them, and if they have extra food baskets during the holidays to help provide Christmas help for low income families.
Friends helpAccept offers from family and friends to help out in your time of need. That’s what friends and family are for—to help each other through the rough times, together.
Utility help
Ask the utility company for information about winter assistance with heating and electric bills. Find out what programs they refer needy families to in order to receive assistance keeping the electricity on.
So hope this helped! We can all do good with just a little love. Pass it along :)
