It’s that time of year… gee it creeps around quickly doesn’t it? Christmas is one of my favourite times of year. I love buying presents, I love seeing the decorations and trees, I love seeing the excitement on children’s faces. I love planning social events and catching up with loved ones.
I also feel sad over Christmas. It is a time of reflection, and a time where we miss loved ones who are no longer with us, a little bit more than usual. It’s a time where we have been conditioned to “be happy”, but realistically, it just isn’t the case for so many people. Weather they are suffering a loss, are experiencing illness or poverty, many people do not have a happy Christmas.
Another thing I do love about Christmas, is picking a couple of different charities to support. And now that my children are getting a little bit older I really want to get them more involved in doing more for others and shifting the focus of ‘receiving’ to ‘giving’. There are so many charities out there, but below are some of the charities which resonate with me which I thought I would share.
Caring Kids
Growing up with a sister who had special needs, I can relate to children and younger people who are caring for someone in this sort of capacity. Whilst being the sibling of someone with special needs, you are totally aware that you are “the lucky one” but your life is impacted and you can suffer in silence a little bit at times. Caring Kids charity creates toy boxes which contain new and excellent quality pre-loved toys, books, puzzles, craft and art supplies stationary and games. These boxes are given to children and young carers across Australia who are looking after a sibling with special needs. The great thing about this charity is that you can donate toys and the items listed above, which you already have so you don’t have to spend any money, yet you are still making a huge difference. It’s also a nice thing for your children to participate in, by selecting some toys they no longer use, which they can give to a child who can enjoy them and give them a new life.
It’s In The Bag – Share The Dignity Australia
I love participating in this charity every Christmas and personalising a gift for a deserving woman. ‘It’s In The Bag’ is a campaign run by Share The Dignity Australia, which aims to provide essential personal items to women who are victims of domestic violence and/or who are homeless. The idea is that you donate a handbag you longer use, and fill it with personal essentials that all of us use daily, which we take for granted. Things like sanitary products, toothbrushes, shampoo etc. Again, this charity allows you to give as much or as little as you can. And we all have unopened samples of products lying around our homes which we can add in. I really love creating these bags, and knowing a woman going through a tough time can receive a gift which has been made just for her. It’s a personal gift, from a woman to a woman.
Australian Childhood Foundation
I just recently came across this foundation and it resonated with me because I just think there’s so much importance in keeping our children safe. Children need to feel loved and protected. Sadly, many children are witness to horrible things at young ages, and they see and experience situations which no one should ever experience, especially a child. Australian Childhood Foundation has different ways to support its charity. You can hold fundraisers, simply donate money, or be a part of their social media campaign by posting a picture of your hand with a heart on it and sharing it with #DefendChildren to raise awareness.
The Smith Family
http://www.thesmithfamily.com.au
This charity has been around for as long as I can remember. In fact, I’m sure all of us have donated to The Smith Family at some point. But do you know exactly what they do? Apparently more than 1 in 6 children are living in poverty. The Smith Family’s aim is to support children’s education and break this cycle of poverty. There are many ways we can help. The Smith Family accepts donations of clothing, toys, books etc. You can also sponsor an individual child, or make financial donations.
Make A Wish
Make A Wish is such a beautiful charity. Its mission is to grant wishes of children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Money donated to this charity goes towards paying for a child’s wish. It could be anything from meeting a superhero or princess, to watching a sporting match or even just holding a puppy. Knowing they have a wish which could come true, keeps sick children’s spirits going. It gives them something to look forward to and makes their difficult days a little easier.
Please feel free to comment with your favourite charities and share the love this Christmas.
Em xoxo