South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Season of giving
How to help area families in need during the holidays
While it’s the time of year for shopping and exchanging gifts with friends, family and co-workers, it’s also the season to give back to others. With inflation affecting everything from the cost of groceries to rent, families are struggling to put meals on the table and presents under the tree.
South Florida nonprofits, organizations and volunteers are leading donation efforts to ensure everyone has a happy holiday season.
Here are some ways to support those in our community who need a helping hand:
ASAP food donation pickup for United Way’s Project Thanksgiving:
The food delivery service formerly known as Delivery Dudes will accept canned food donations anytime an order is placed in Palm Beach, Broward and Martin counties through Nov. 30. Supporters can hand their donation to the driver when they deliver the order or for no-contact deliveries, place a bag with the canned goods outside the door. Those who donate will receive a coupon code for $5 off their next order with ASAP and be placed in a drawing to win hundreds of dollars of credits for future orders. Visit asap.com.
Cars & Coffee Palm Beach Holiday Toy Drive:
Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and bring a new unwrapped toy to benefit The Children’s Healing Institute of Palm Beach.
8 a.m. to noon Dec. 4 at Tanger Outlets Palm Beach,
1751 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach.
Deerfield Beach Holiday Book and Toy Drive:
Residents and local organizations can donate new, unwrapped toys and books for kids ages 4 to 16. The city will collect the items until 5 p.m. Dec. 7. A book and a toy will be handed out at the Ice Cream Social with Santa from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Oveta McKeithen Recreational Center, 445 SW Second St., Deerfield Beach. Book and toy drop-off locations are City Hall (150 NE Second Ave.), N.E. Focal Point at the Braithwaite Center for Active Aging
(227 NW Second St.), Hillsboro Community Center
(50 Hillsboro Technology Drive) and Constitution Park (2841 W. Hillsboro Blvd.). Call 954-480-4474.
Arc of Palm Beach County greeting cards:
Do you want to wish your loved ones “Season’s Sunny Greetings!” or another customized message? The Arc is selling original greeting cards created by artisans with disabilities, which allows them to earn a commission from the sale of their work. Prices start at four packs for $18 and are sold in counts of 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1,000. Some of the themes are snowmen, stars and Santa Claus as well as turtles, dolphins and palm trees. Visit arcpbc.org/artisans to purchase.
Boynton Beach Police Department’s 11th annual Holiday Toy Drive:
Help make the holidays special for children in the community by purchasing items from the Target gift registry by Dec. 5. Toys may also be dropped off at locations throughout the city, including City Hall (100 E. Ocean Ave.) and the BBPD lobby (2100 High Ridge Road). Visit bit.ly/3TX4SoI.
Happy Holiday Toy Giveaway:
Miramar residents only can pick up a free gift for their children up to age
11 from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 22 at Miramar Town Center,
2300 Civic Center Place, courtesy of Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis. Parents must have ID and children need to be present at pick up with a maximum of three per household. Reservations are required at bit.ly/3Vky9uA.
Become a Snow Ange:
The Ann Storck Center in Fort Lauderdale has a mission to enrich the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities through its programs and services. Each Snow Angel donation of $250 or more will receive a Tribute Tile that will include your family’s name to be placed in the new Adult Day Training building. Visit annstorckcenter.org/snowangels.
Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign:
Listen for the bell. Red Kettles are stationed outside stores and businesses, Monday through Saturday, through Christmas Eve. All donations stay in the community in which they are collected to fund the Salvation Army’s programs to help those in need. There are cashless options available at the Red Kettle this year via Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Venmo. Visit salvationarmyusa.org/usn/ ways-to-give/ or select a location, date and time on RegisterToRing.com to become a volunteer bell ringer.
8 Days, 8 Ways of Giving Back:
Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Volunteer Center offers eight days of doing good deeds around the community and celebrating the eight days of Hanukkah. Opportunities include a Hanukkah Celebration and donation drive for children in foster care through Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options (JAFCO); delivering Hanukkah meals to community members in need, in partnership with The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach and Alpert Jewish Family Service; packaging hygiene kits to be donated to Palm Beach County Safe Schools and Human
Trafficking Coalition; and making greeting cards for homebound seniors, among others. Volunteers are asked to tag @ JVCPalmBeach on Facebook and @jewishvolunteercenter on Instagram along with #8Days8Ways. Visit jewishpb.org/8days for a schedule of events.
Christmas Gift Collecting for Children:
Through Dec. 18, bring unwrapped gifts for infants to age 19 to the Unity of Delray Beach lobby, 101 NW 22nd St., from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays or call the office at 561-276-5796 for drop off during the week.
Little Smiles of Florida Holiday Toy Drive:
The organization that provides year-long support to children, caregivers and families at hospitals and other facilities is collecting gifts through Dec. 25 for newborns to age 18. The gifts are distributed through collection centers for families to pick up and directly to Little Smiles’ 32 pediatric partners, including hospitals with children fighting life-threatening illnesses, medical daycare centers, hospices, shelters, foster care homes and medical support facilities. Businesses can request a box to become a toy dropoff location or become a sponsor. People can shop and bring new, unwrapped gifts to one of the drop-off locations listed on littlesmilesfl.org or to Little Smiles’ North Pole at Harbourside Place in Jupiter. Text LITTLESMILES to 44321, shop from the Amazon Wish List or donate at littlesmilesfl.org.
The Casino @ Dania Beach Holiday Toy Drive:
Drop off new and unwrapped toys through Dec. 8 at the casino, 301
E. Dania Beach Blvd., to benefit The Pantry of Broward, which serves seniors with low or fixed incomes and grandparents raising grandchildren in Broward County. Players Club members will receive $5 of Free Play for each unwrapped item, a maximum of three redemptions per week are permitted.
Suits, Stilettos and Lipstick Foundation Holiday Toy Drive:
Partnering with the Fort Lauderdale Black Police Officers Association, the nonprofit that empowers women and children to become leaders is launching its 21st annual John & Elizabeth’s Toy Drive & Fundraiser to benefit underserved children attending Broward County Public Schools. The public and businesses can give through sponsorships, private donations, toy donations, bidding on silent auction items, volunteering and registering to attend the cocktail reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, 505 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. The online silent auction begins Nov. 25 and will run through Dec. 12. Tickets for the Toy Drive cocktail reception are available at SSLWomen.org.
Lips Drag-a-licious Brunch and Toy Drive:
Check out a drag dining experience to benefit Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center in Fort Lauderdale that offers services to help disabled and chronically ill children and adolescents. Shows are set for 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at Lips, 1421 E. Oakland Park Blvd., in Oakland Park. Bring an unwrapped children’s toy to receive a free Lips’ World-Famous Frozen Cosmo during a future visit. Reservations are required by calling 954-567-0987. Brunch is $40 per person, which includes a $10 show cover charge that will go directly to Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center. Visit childrensdiagnostic. com/ and lipsusa.com.
Hanukkah Angels:
Craig’s Pantry & Outreach Program, 7451 NW Fourth St., in Plantation is in need of tax-deductible donations to go directly toward the purchase of food and household essentials for Jewish seniors, adults and children in Broward County and never to administrative or operating costs. Visit craigspantry. org/donate.
Winn-Dixie Season of Giving:
The community donation program will help raise funds and awareness for food insecurity in support of Feeding America. Through Dec. 27, Winn-Dixie customers can donate $1, $5 or round up their grocery bill. Funds raised will support Feeding America and Feeding America network food banks throughout the Southeast. Visit feedingamerica.org/.
Lauderhill Holiday Toy Giveaway:
Lauderhill residents age 2 to 12 can register through Dec. 12 to receive a free toy during the giveaway event from 5 to
8 p.m. Dec. 15 at Joy’s Roti Delight, 1205 NW 40th Ave. Advance registration is required at lauderhill-fl. gov/news-and-events/ toy-drive-giveaway and children must be present on day of giveaway. Supporters can donate new, unwrapped toys for ages 2 to 12 through Dec. 12 at Joy’s Roti Delight (1205 NW 40th Ave.), Lauderhill City Hall (5581 W. Oakland Park Blvd.), Lauderhill Police Department (6279 W. Oakland Park Blvd.), Fire Station #57 (1980 NW
56th Ave.), Fire Station
#73 (7801 NW 50th St.), Fire Station #110 (3120 NW 12th Place), Lauderhill Golf Course (4141 NW 16th St.), Lauderhill Historical Museum (1080 NW 47th Ave.), Lauderhill Sports Park (7500 W. Oakland Park Blvd.), John Mullin Park (2000 NW
55th Ave.), Sadkin Community Center (1176 NW 42nd Way), St. George Park (3501 NW Eighth St.), Veterans Park (7600 NW 50th St.), Westwind Park (4550 NW
82nd Ave.), Windermere Community Center (1818 NW 54th Terrace).