Christmas is known as the holiday full of family festivities. And for many Filipinos, it is the biggest holiday celebration that they look forward to. Everyone’s busy buying gifts, setting up parties, or booking holiday trips. But with Christmas fast approaching, it’s also important to look beyond the festivities and remember what Christmas is all about: giving. I’m sure most of you have already made a list of what you want for Christmas; it could be a new pair of shoes or a new phone, but either way, we should take this chance to give back to the community. Being generous with your time and money is one way to do that.
With all the parties, reunions, and last-minute decorations, it’s easy to forget the true value of Christmas, especially if it has a reputation of solely about receiving gifts. Because of that, we tend to forget those who aren’t as fortunate as some of us. We can’t help everyone in the world, but by giving back to them, we might actually contribute to making their lives a little bit better. You don’t need a price tag for that and you most certainly don’t need to get something in return. Giving back is a humbling experience, so if you have time to spare, explore some ways to help your community this holiday season. Let’s all try to spread love and charity to not only our friends and family but also to those who might need it.
Here are some ways you can help out this festive season:
Party with a purpose
The usual thoughts that come in our mind when we think about holiday parties are “What should I wear?” “What gift should I buy?” and the like. As much as we all love a good holiday party, we should also try to look for ways on how to make it more meaningful. One example is by setting up a party for a good cause. For instance, have a dance or karaoke competition where the winner/s can take the price to donate to the charity of their choice. Another way to do this is by asking people to attend with a token entry fee, which will also be donated.
Help animals
One thing that some people often forget is that not all animals have homes. While we are at home celebrating the holidays, homeless animals are looking for food or shelters. One of the best gifts we can give this Christmas is to give a homeless pet a place they could stay. And if adopting an animal isn’t the best option for you, if you know a family thinking about getting a pet, consider giving them one and offer to pay the adoption fee. There are millions of dogs, cats, and other small animals waiting for a family to love them, and they are counting on us to protect them.
If you’re interested in adopting a pet, try Pawssion Project, a non-profit group that rescues stay dogs. To see the dogs and puppies that are currently available for adoption at Pawssion Project, click here. For more pet organizations, click here.
Donate to a toy drive
Not every child wakes up with a Christmas gift. And although the holiday isn’t just about giving gifts, it’s always nice to make someone’s day, especially kids. Toys can give children meaningful memories. It’s something that most of us grew up with, and we should all provide the same experience to other children. We never know how much happiness we could bring to them.
Here are some toy drive organizations:
Ninya Saquilabon
5F Jose Cojuangco & Sons Bldg. Dela Rosa cor. Castro Sts., Legaspi Village, Makati City
0905-4090310
info@toylibraryph.com
Childhope Philippines Foundation
1210 Penafrancia St., Paco, Manila
563-4647
igivehope@childhope.org.ph
Take time to volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to connect with others and the community. It allows you to grow empathy and develop new skills. This season offers plenty of ways to volunteer, and since there are so many, it can be difficult to figure out which organization to get involved with. I suggest you think first about why you feel the need to volunteer to a certain organization. Do you have the same goals in mind? Do you feel strongly about their advocacy? Or do you just feel like they need the most help? Whatever it is, we got you covered:
If you want to support underprivileged kids:
Volunteer as a storyteller, arts and craft facilitator, or host in Museo Pambata. You can find other tasks here. Museo Pambata invited 1,000 underprivileged children to their annual Christmas gift-giving program last Dec. 16, but you can still donate cash by filling in this form or drop off books, toys, and craft items at the museum.
If you want to save oceans:
For those who find peace and quiet at the ocean, this season is the best time to give back. If you are considering joining or donating to some non-government organizations that educate on marine conservation and the like, click here.
If you want to support children with cancer:
Climb Against Cancer, a volunteer group that sends school supplies to indigenous kids and kids with cancer, is holding a “Christmas in the Mountains” event, where they plan to distribute gifts to kids in remote mountain communities and cancer pediatric wards. You can volunteer to join them in sites all over Mindanao and Manila from 27th November – 29th December 2019.
To make donations, whether in cash or items, you can contact Nini Andrada Sacro: 09163162879. Click here for more information.
If you want to support artists:
Juan Portrait is an organization of photographers, writers, and other volunteers who use their skills to contribute to the development of communities throughout the country.
For more info, contact Guia Tomaneng via email: info@juanportrait.org
If you want to support the LGBTQ+ community:
The LGBTQ+ community in the Philippines has been fighting for their rights for many years now. This Christmas, let’s try to make them feel loved by supporting the local organizations that champion LGBTQ+ rights. Click here for a number of organizations to choose from.
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Photo courtesy of @nrityashakti’s Instagram Account
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