Embracing the Spirit of Giving Back this Holiday Season

Adopt a Child or Family

One of our favorite ways of giving back is by adopting a child or family and helping them with gifts to open this holiday season. While some items may be a toy or a game, most often the items wished for our basic necessities. Jackets, socks, gloves, shoes…

If possible, try to adopt either a single child or a set of siblings (to make sure they each get an equal amount of love). 

The Childrens Cabinet- Each year families and businesses come together to help families in need. You decide what size family you would like to adopt and they ask for $50 minimum on each family member. Childrens Cabinet Adopt a Family

The Boys and Girls Club- The Holiday Help Program has helped hundreds of families with gifts and goods including clothes, toys, and household items. Many that receive are members of the club and are families in need. To adopt a Reno-Sparks family for the 2023 Holiday Help program, please get in touch with Dina Ciarlo via email at holidayhelp@bgctm.org.

Safe Embrace- Children and families are currently available to be adopted through email or phone. Email: christmas@safeembrace.org Phone: 775-324-3766. You can request family size, individuals, or children and they will match you with a survivor or a family who is currently receiving services.

Adopt a Senior

If you think adopting a child is awesome you can adopt a senior too! Reach out to any local seniro care facility and see if they have an adopt a senior program you can participate in.

Donate to a Food Bank, Collection or Box

Food Bank of Northern Nevada- The food drives on this list are all open to the public and welcome your donation towards helping them reach their goal. There are SEVERAL of them around town, please you are supporting local businesses!

Most Needed Items:

• Canned Vegetables (No Salt Added or Low Sodium)
• Canned Meals (Stews, Soups, Spaghetti/Ravioli)
• Protein (peanut butter, tuna, salmon, chicken, dried or canned beans)
• Grains (whole-grain cereal, oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain pasta)
• Canned Fruits (in 100% juice or light syrup), dried fruit, applesauce (no sugar added), 100% fruit juice boxes
• Dairy (shelf-stable milk)
• Baby & Kid Friendly (formula, infant cereal, baby food, granola bars, popcorn, crackers

Karma Box- This project is a community initiative that allows people to give non-perishable food, first aid, and toiletries to those in need. The Karma Box Project people can donate year-round. There are several boxes located around Northern Nevada, you can find a box close to you here.

Raleys Food for Families- When you give, they give! One Food For Families $10 donation provides more than 20 nutritious meals to neighbors in need. Donations STAY LOCAL. You can donate online or at the local Raley’s near you!

Get the whole family involved! 

Educating children about charity and generosity during the festive season is essential for nurturing empathy, kindness, and a feeling of togetherness. It imparts principles that surpass materialism and aids in comprehending the happiness derived from positively impacting others' lives.

Engaging children in charitable endeavors during holidays not only warms the heart but also imparts valuable lessons. To start, set an example. When kids witness their parents actively participating in acts of kindness, they're more inclined to emulate.

Additionally, make the experience relatable and enjoyable. Opt for activities suitable for their age that strike a chord with them, like donating toys or crafting heartfelt cards for those in less fortunate circumstances. Here are some ideas: 

1. Toy Drive Surprise: Encourage kids to go through their toys and pick out ones they no longer play with. Donate these toys to a local charity or organize a toy drive within the community.
2. Bake and Share: Spend an afternoon baking cookies or treats together. Deliver these homemade goodies to neighbors, local firefighters, or elderly community members.
3. Family Volunteer Day: Identify local charities or shelters that allow families to volunteer together. It could be serving meals, sorting donations, or participating in community clean-up projects.
4. Holiday Card Workshop: Set up a card-making station at home. Create handmade holiday cards and distribute them to local nursing homes, hospitals, or military personnel stationed abroad.
5. Donation Jar Challenge: Provide each family member with a donation jar. Throughout the holiday season, encourage kids to add spare change or allowances to their jars. At the end of the season, donate the collected funds to a chosen charity.
6. Visit a Senior Center: Coordinate a visit to a local senior center. Kids can engage with elderly residents, play games, or simply spend quality time chatting and sharing stories.
7. Meal Kit Assembly: Assemble meal kits with non-perishable food items and donate them to a local food bank or shelter. This hands-on activity helps kids understand the importance of addressing food insecurity.
8. Nature Clean-Up: Plan a family nature walk and bring along trash bags. Take the opportunity to clean up a local park or nature trail, teaching kids the importance of environmental stewardship.
9. Read for a Cause: Host a family reading night where each book read equals a small donation. Pool the funds and contribute to a literacy-focused charity or purchase books for a local school in need.

Giving back doesn't have to end after the holidays

While giving back during the holidays makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside, it doesn’t mean that the holidays are the ONLY time to give back. We encourage you to find something you would be passionate about being a part of through out the year maybe voluntering at the Food Bank, regularly supplying needs to some of the organizations we listed above or finding a non profit to volunter with. We love dedicating our time to The Reno Rodeo Foundation and others as a way we can personally give back to our community.