Ways to give back over the holidays in Vancouver
The holiday season is a great opportunity to teach your kids that giving is better than receiving, and let them learn themselves how wonderful it feels to help those in need. There are many amazing local organizations you can donate to or volunteer with, especially over the holidays. Here are three wonderful local organizations that can help you, and your kids, give back over the holiday season:
- Presents of Peace Program https://ywcavan.org/give/holiday-giving
This is an amazing way to teach your kids about giving during the holiday season. Your family can sponsor a low-income family through the YWCA’s Presents of Peace holiday hamper program. You are given a family’s wish list so you can shop for them and then you can deliver the hamper to their home. (You can also purchase an online Holiday Hamper if you don’t have time to do all the shopping and wrapping.)
- Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre Holiday Giving Campaign http://dewc.ca/events
The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre serves up to 500 women and children daily. During holiday meals, gifts are given to women and their children at their drop-in centre and emergency shelter. Sadly, for some women and children, this will be the only celebration they attend over the holiday season. The Centre accepts cash donations as well as food and new and unwrapped gifts for women and children.
The Gift of Giving 2016 program wants to donate 200 gifts to women in need this holiday season. The price to cover the cost of each gift is $25 but you can donate any amount and sponsor as many gifts as you choose! Each gift includes a personal care set including hand cream & body wash, warm cozy socks, hair ties, feminine hygiene products and underwear. All gifts beautifully wrapped with a hand written card, and are distributed through numerous women’s charities across the Lower Mainland.
“Christmas isn’t about candy canes, or lights all aglow. It’s the hearts that we touch, and the care that we show.” – Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
How do you plan on teaching your kids how to give this holiday season?
Amy Beeman has been working in morning radio for almost 20 years, first in her hometown of Prince George and now for 94.5 Virgin Radio with Jonny, Holly & Nira. Her interests include running half marathons, dancing in her kitchen, napping, blogging at According to Amy, and going on adventures with her twins, Lucy and Sam, and her son Stanley. Amy loves seeing the world through their eyes.