How To Help Needy Children In PA During The Holiday Season

PENNSYLVANIA — The holidays are a time of laughter and love and nostalgia and making new memories, but it's also an important time to reflect on the larger world around us.

As you celebrate with your friends and family, here are a few opportunities for you to consider that give back to less fortunate children during the holiday season.

Donate or volunteer with Cradles to Crayons

One of the area's leading charities for children, Cradles to Crayons works to bring a variety of goods — but especially clothes — to needy children in the greater Philadelphia area.

The best ways to help out are to look around your home for items that may have been outgrown or replaced. These include but are not limited to new clothing, shoes, books, and toys.

There are events, both at the holiday season and throughout the year, that require volunteers. And financial donations always help, too.

The group also works with children in Chicago and Massachusetts.

Find a local drop off point and learn more here.

Cook a meal or host a family through the Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network

The network is a group of congregational volunteers that work with the community to end homelessness and provide comfort to children, families, and individuals throughout the year.

Volunteers are needed to cook meals, clean up dinners, and host needy families overnight at the congregation's building.

Call Rachel Falkove at 215-247-4663, extension 136, to learn more.

Donate to "adopt" a family in the Philadelphia area

Every year, the Omicron Delta Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity works to "adopt" families in the region for the holidays. This includes delivering both gifts and items of need to selected families, ranging from Xbox games to basic clothes and household items.

The group is accepting donations for their Adopt a Phamily Program here.

Help build or repair a home or sell items in support of Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity's Philadelphia branch works on a variety of homebuilding and repair projects for needy families.

Construction volunteers are needed in Philadelphia from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

You can also volunteer at the ReStore on Tuesday through Saturday in one of two shifts: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Habitat Montco Delco has a wide variety of team volunteer days, construction work, and ReStore opportunities listed online here.

Help provide meals through Philabundance

If you're looking for hands-on volunteer work during the holiday week, Philabundance has no shortage of options.

Volunteers are needed at several partner agencies on Thursdays and Fridays, Dec. 26. and 27, and Jan. 2 and Jan. 3.

You can contribute in Norristown, Collegeville, Chester, South Jersey, and around Philadelphia.

For information on volunteering at individual locations, see here.

Help bring children gifts through the Dear Santa Society

The Dear Santa Society works to bring customized gifts, clothes, and more to children in need. Needy children send wish lists which are then fulfilled by the group, which "answers" the letters to Santa.

The Dear Santa Society's local headquarters is based in New Britain, Bucks County. Learn more and donate here.

Donate or volunteer with the Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard

This Ambler-based food cupboard needs volunteers on Monday and Wednesday mornings. They're also looking for food or clothing donations. Find out how you can help here.