Let’s Get Into The Christmas Spirit: Donate To Those In Need, Spread Christmas Cheer
With Christmas right around the corner, let’s get into the Christmas spirit and donate to those in need. Spread some Christmas cheer!
Do you remember the major floods that devastated several people in West Virginia? Back in June, floods swiped through several counties in West Virginia, leaving more than 1,000 people with damaged or destroyed homes and businesses, and almost 25 people dead, according to CNN.
Although this occurred towards the end of June, people are still suffering from the aftermath. Truckloads of donations were delivered in Clay County on Saturday. A Buffalo, New York man, Tony Murphy, was responsible for the donations. He had food, water, clothes, and other basic items delivered to help those still in need of help, WSAV.
Shawn Osborne, a flood victim, says, “The fights not over.” Osborne lost everything in the flood and was volunteering at the donation drop off by helping others find what they need.
“We’re running off of donations of items. There’s no money.”
With Christmas right around the corner, Osborne urges people to volunteer in the areas still affected by the floods.
“The stage we’re at now we need skilled tradesmen. We need people that are licensed to do things.”
The Key West homeless shelter is asking for donations to help provide one-way bus tickets home for those who want to go home, but are unable to afford the price of bus tickets.
Until September, Southernmost Homeless Assistance League (SHAL) has been providing men and women bus fares for those who were stuck in Florida Keys with no way home, but a lack of funding has prohibited them to continue doing this.
If you can find it in your heart to donate some money to help these people make it home for Christmas, every dollar counts. For each person who receives a bus fare home, they must agree not to return to Monroe County, Executive Director John Miller told FL Keys News.
“The Keys can be a tough place to make ends meet due to the high costs of housing and living and low wages for unskilled workers. Sometimes a person’s best option is to relocate ‘back home’ where family, friends, housing and employment can more easily add up to self-sufficiency.”
If you are able to help SHAL provide bus fares to the needy people so that they can return home for Christmas, please visit their website to make a donation.
Of course, always consider donating a toy to your local toy drive. These toys will go to local children, who without your help, may not receive any gifts from Santa.
Another option to pay it forward is to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude’s is always finding cures to save children. Every penny that is donated to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital goes towards treating the most toughest cases, as well as finding new cures to save children.
You can get involved in many different ways. You can volunteer locally by starting a fundraiser in your area. Another way that you can help is to become a Partner in Hope. As a Partner in Hope, you will be set up to donate monthly to St. Jude’s. You can start a workplace fundraiser, or a fundraiser on campus.
There are plenty of people in need, especially during this holiday season. Volunteer your time, donate to people and businesses in need, or provide toys to children who may not have a Christmas without your help.
If you are unable to provide money or items, help pay it forward by volunteering your time at a local food bank or toy bank. Help spread some Christmas cheer to those in need.
[Featured Image by ivanko80/AP Images]
