It is the season of thankfulness and helping those who are in need. We’ve identified five local Houston charities that need donations and services from its Memorial neighbors this holiday season:
Houston Children’s Charity (HCC)
These folks have two programs during the holiday season, Adopt-A-Family and a Toy Distribution. Adopt-A-Family program allows sponsors the opportunity to put their own personal touch on Christmas with face-to-face interactions. Since 2008, HCC has teamed with the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots program to provide toys for underserved children. Houston First Corporation has granted 115,000 square feet of space in the George R. Brown Convention Center to host the Annual Toy Distribution, resulting in thousands of grateful children during the holiday season. www.houstonchildrenscharity.org
Mission of Yahweh
The Mission of Yahweh offers many life-changing programs focused on ending the cycle of homelessness and dependency. Their Children’s Program includes social skills development, educational programs and development of character traits such as self-esteem, honesty, self-control, forgiveness. An important part of The Mission’s objective is providing outreach services to low-income families that live in our surrounding neighborhoods. They are in need of toys for their resident children this holiday season. www.missionofyahweh.org
Lilys Toy Box
Lily’s Toy Box was created during Hurricane Harvey as Lily Dubose and her mom were in the closet as it was thundering and lightning outside. Lily says she felt so bad for the kids who were evacuating and who lost all of their toys. She decided to collect toys for children who lost so much. “I was able to collect 5000 toys and give to 200 kids for my first toy drive” Lily said. She then created Lily’s Toy Box to help whenever she can. www.lilystoybox.com
Family Point Resources (FPR)
December is a financially stressful time for many and FPR is working to take the financial stress of holiday shopping off of parents. Each Christmas season they create a store stocked with great, reasonably priced gifts for children ages 3-16 by its donors with the intent of parents not needing to spend more than $50. FPR is also in need of gift cards which allow parents to buy new clothes and food for this winter season. The money made at the store will be donated to the FPR Scholarship Fund. www.familypointresources.com
Operation Christmas Child
Packaged in little shoeboxes, Operation Christmas Child is putting together care packages for children this Christmas season. The boxes are filled with personal hygiene items, toys, and more. Volunteers fill and send these boxes of joy to Houston families in need. For more information check out their website. www.samaritanspurse.org.
