With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we thought we’d share ways you can add some heart to the holiday with ideas for charitable twists.

Kids always like holiday craft projects, so this Valentine’s Day, consider having them make a Giving Jar.  With this project, kids decorate and fill jars with special contents such as a portion of their allowance to give to a cause; kind acts to fulfill each week or month; or inspirational messages to pass on with the entire jar as a thoughtful gift.  You can download the how-to kit for free!

How about making a donation to worthy cause as part of this heart-filled holiday?  For example, you can make a contribution to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in someone’s name and print out a personalized Valentine’s Day certificate to share what you have done.

And it is always fun to give and get a few presents for the holiday.  This time, you can select gifts that do something extra special by shopping at the American Heart Association’s online store.  There’s loads of great stuff from apparel to jewelry to accessories and gadgets. You will be helping the fight against the number one killer of women — heart disease.

Just a few ways to keep the holiday fun and have a balance of receiving and giving!

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

There are a lot of social gatherings around holiday time.  This year, turn one of your gatherings into a giving experience. Here are a few ideas:

Holiday Game Party:  Hold a game party for kids and friends. Pick your favorite board game, try charades, organize a Wii competition, or open up a box of trivia.  The twist is that to participate in the gathering, guests must bring an item to donate such as canned food, clothing, or a toy.  As hosts, you and your kids can select the type of item you would like friends to bring.  Let everyone know what charity will receive the donations.

Holiday Cooking Party:  There are a lot of great aromas coming from kitchens this time of year.  When you and your kids are making holiday cookies, consider baking an extra dozen or two to give to a local shelter or senior center.  Or, invite friends and their kids to help make bread, soup, or a holiday specialty.  You can make enough so that everyone goes home with a dish and has an extra goodie to donate.

Just a few ideas to have good fun this holiday season!

© YesKidzCan!, 2011

“Tis the season for shopping.  So, why not shop and give to charity at the same time?  NonprofitShoppingMall (NPSM) makes it easy to do just this.  NPSM lets you shop online for the items you normally buy, the brands you regularly choose at the prices you normally pay.  Then, a donation is made to charity you select from a list of participating nonprofits. The retailers who participate on NPSM pay a commission for the sales and a significant portion of those payments go to the nonprofit you have selected.  Stores include GAP, Nordstrom, Staples, Target, Macy’s, Barnes and Noble, eBay, Crate and Barrel, and more! It’s do-good multi-tasking:  holiday shopping and charitable giving!

© YesKidzCan!, 2011

Now here’s a fun and meaningful idea for you and your kids this holiday.  Have your kids be elves!  No green tights required!  At participating post offices around the country, you can be part of Operation Santa and read letters that needy children have written to Santa Claus.  You can take home a few letters that move you, and go out with your kids to buy gifts.  Simply send them in the US Mail marked, “From Santa.”

If your local post office does not participate, visit Be An Elf for other ways you and your kids can serve as Santa’s Helpers.  For example, you can drop off presents to an orphanage, an inner city elementary school, or a homeless shelter that supports families. Or you can make a donation to Be An Elf as well!

Enjoy your holidays, and at the same time, help make them a little brighter for those less fortunate.

© YesKidzCan!, 2011

Sending out holiday cards this year?  Why not involve your kids in picking out a card design that is being sold by a nonprofit organization to help support its mission. Sometimes these cards are hard to find, but Cards That Give has a gallery of beautiful cards that give back.  You can pick a design you like and see which charity it supports.  Or, you can look for the charity you are interested in and see if you like the holiday image.  Once you receive your cards, your kids can help with the envelope stuffing, labeling, or stamp licking!

© YesKidzCan!, 2011

Are you looking for a meaningful way to acknowledge all that our educators do for our kids this holiday season?  How about thanking your kids’ teachers or coaches with gifts that give back.  Here are just two ideas to consider:

Charity Gift Card

Help your kids’ teachers give to a cause that means a lot to them by purchasing a charity gift card for them through Charity Choice.  You can get either a physical card or an eCard.  You select the amount that you want to put on the card and can even upload a photograph or image to customize it. (As the purchaser, the dollar amount is 100% tax deductible, and you will receive an emailed tax acknowledgement for your records.)

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer

Who doesn’t like sweat treats?  If you don’t have time to bake your own, consider sending a dozen of these oversize cookies that fund pediatric cancer research.  You can select from 7 varieties such as lemon sugar, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, and more.

© YesKidzCan!, 2011

For many of us, it is never too early to start thinking about creative and meaningful gifts for the holidays.  If you want to spread holiday cheer to gift recipients as well as people in need around the world, then this resource is for you:  Shop With Meaning!

This website highlights a product each day that generates a donation off each purchase.  They feature all types of transaction-based giving including one-for-one products (buy one give one) and products where a donation for a charity is raised based off of the sales price.

Here are some examples of what the site features:

Apparel – You can buy “pink” items that support breast cancer research to crochet hats made by women in Uganda who will earn family income from the sales.

Beauty and Wellness – Try out Soapbox soaps, a one-for-one manufacturer, where they give a bar of soap to a needy child every time you purchase one for yourself.   Or, how about Radiant Cosmetics which donates proceeds to help end human trafficking.

Shoes – Check out  BucketFeet Shoes where artists design one-of-a-kind shoes creations with a percentage going to support kids through art, music, and sports.

This site encourages us to think differently about our purchase decisions and offers a fresh way to bring new meaning to shopping for the holidays or year round!

© YesKidzCan!, 2011

Most kids understand that we recognize July 4th as a holiday to celebrate the United State’s independence from British rule in 1776.  The Declaration of Independence was drafted to spell out what was important to our leaders and citizens and our commitment.  Seems like a perfect holiday to add an easy service project to foster the leader in your kids.

We’re not talking about anything complicated.  The kids are looking for some entertainment while you’re heating up the grill.  So, set up a table with a few canvases and some paint and brushes and have the kids create inspirational paintings (perhaps with patriotic themes in honor of the 4th).  Many hospitals, senior centers, libraries, or schools would appreciate receiving the artwork to brighten up their hallways or waiting areas. For a complete how-to on this kind of project, purchase our Art that Heals Community Service Project Kit.  It includes a butterfly template as one artistic option.  It’s “almost free” at $8.  And, 100% goes to support children’s causes!  Our forefathers would be proud to see a project like this as part of a holiday that is all about leadership and banding together as a community.

© YesKidzCan!, 2011

It’s nice to see colorfully packaged gifts in different shapes and sizes underneath the Christmas tree.  And what kid can contain his or her eagerness to dive into the presents?  But each year, I do struggle with creating an exciting and fun atmosphere where we beam at our daughter as she rips off gift wrapping while at the same time, find a way to reinforce gratitude and appreciation for what she has. 

One tradition we have in our house is to place under the tree a letter from a Christmas elf that contains money.  The note explains that the money is for our daughter to donate to a worthy organization or cause that she feels is important.  When she was younger, we helped her think through her choices and identify a reputable group.  Her selections have included ”adopting” an endangered harbor seal through the World Wildlife Fund to supporting a dog rehabilitation and rescue facility called Best Friends Animal Society.  Now that she is a bit older, she knows that the letter is really written by mom and not an elf, but nonetheless, she looks for the letter every year.  Christmas in our home wouldn’t be Christmas without it.  How do you help your kids balance giving and getting?

 © YesKidzCan!, 2010