The holiday season has different meanings for everyone, but across the nation, it is seen as a time of giving. This past year and a half have been difficult for many families, and as we approach the holiday season there is the added challenge of providing gifts and holiday meals. Several organizations in Colorado Springs understand this difficulty and encourage the community to provide holiday donations to make this holiday season special for all.
Toys for Tots
Russ Miller, the local campaign coordinator for Toys for Tots in the Pikes Peak Region, has been a part of this organization for most of his life. As a boy, his missionary father would help the marines to distribute toys to Navajo children on the nearby reservation. Miller states, “I had a history with it, it was near and dear to my heart and wanted to keep it going.” He now works with police departments and schools to help with donations.
“It started out as a way to put toys in the hands of children during Christmas time and has developed into the collecting and distributing of toys to forgotten children,” Miller explains.
Toys for Tots has options for in-person toy donations at multiple sites across the Springs as well as online donations.
TESSA
Donations during Christmas time, according to TESSA’s website, “give our clients the opportunity to shop for their kiddos and provide them with gifts that they might not be able to get this year. The kiddos also have the opportunity to shop for their parents.”
TESSA provides gift lists for children ages birth 5, 6-11, 12-18, and adults. The gifts that are provided are wrapped and delivered to create an extra special holiday experience!
Children’s Hospital
Children’s Hospital Colorado Springs has lists of toy suggestions that would benefit the children. They ask for non-food gifts, as well as gifts that are new and with intact packaging.
“Donated items, or gifts-in-kind, can help comfort and entertain children during a stay at Children’s Hospital Colorado,” stated their website, which also provides detailed information on the necessity of carefully following their gift regulations so all kids can experience the joy of the season.
Project Angel Heart
This project’s website explains, “Every dollar you give to Project Angel Heart is used to produce high-quality, specialized meals that not only taste good, but also lead to health improvements, lower overall medical costs, and improved quality of life for meal recipients. No matter how you choose to give, your support is making a difference in Colorado!”
Project Angel Heart requests donations from the community to help them purchase food to prepare healthy meals for those in need.
Christmas Unlimited
Christmas Unlimited has options for both goods and money to be donated, as well as volunteer opportunities to support the community through service. They provide a unique opportunity for children and their families during this season so that everyone can participate in the joy of gift-giving and gift-receiving. They have multiple drop-off locations for toy donations including their headquarters at 2204 E Boulder St., Colorado Springs Fire Stations, and Louie’s Pizza, with more being announced soon.
Children’s Literacy Center
Books and writing materials are excellent gifts for children. Children’s Literacy Center has multiple options for donations including a link to their Amazon Smile account. Reading and writing are foundational skills that every child needs. This center asks for book donations in addition to games with a literacy focus, writing materials, and even treasure box prizes.
Woodmen Valley Chapel Gift of Love
Stu Davis, Pastor of City Impact at Woodmen Valley Chapel, helps to organize and run a special event each year for Colorado Springs families. He explains, “The Gift of Love Celebration (GOLC) is an annual Christmas event that Woodmen Valley Chapel began in 2011, as a way to support families unable to buy new Christmas presents for their children. Now in its 12th year, we will see 325 families come through two locations (the Westside Community Center and our own Woodmen Height campus), where both adults and children can purchase brand-new Christmas gifts for their family members at roughly 10% of their retail cost.”
Davis states, “In doing these events, it’s just another way for Woodmen Valley Chapel to express its desire to Love Well and to meet friends and neighbors where they are, in their need, and offer hope and support where they often lack.”
Care and Share Food Bank
“As a food bank, Care and Share works to gather and sort food from multiple sources, distributing to our network of 282 partners in 31 counties across Southern Colorado. We make sure nutritious food gets in the hands of everyone who needs it—wherever they are,” states their website which has information on donating and volunteering.
Care and Share receives food donations that they sort and help to distribute to the community. They love having volunteers to help with this process, especially during the holiday season.
Whether you choose to generously provide gifts, food, money, or your time as a volunteer, please consider providing holiday donations to a local organization this holiday season to support our community.
