Where to Donate To Those in Need This Holiday

Clear out your closet for a good cause by setting aside any gently used or outgrown clothing for someone in need. With over 2,800 locations across the the U.S., Canada, and abroad,

Goodwill

stores accept new or gently used items (clean, please!).  You can also donate clothing to veterans and active military members this season through the

Purple Heart Clothing Donation

program, which will pick up donations right at your door. 

Spread the gift of warmth wherever you are by contributing to a coat drive. With

Burlington’s Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Drive

, in partnership with Good Morning America, you can donate a gently worn coat at

any store location

. For every coat donated, you’ll even get 10 percent off your next purchase. If you’re interesting in hosting a coat drive in your community,

One Warm Coat

 has plenty of ways to

help you get started

.

Every fall, the

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots

 program kicks off its annual nationwide toy drive—with over 700 community campaigns—to help distribute 18 million toys to nearly 7 million children in need. Simply pick up a new toy the next time you go shopping, drop it off, unwrapped, at the

closest collection site near you

, and help put a smile on a child’s face this season.  

If you’re picking out craft supplies for a little Picasso this holiday, why not grab a few extra paintbrushes and sticker sets for the children at

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

. These will not only be birthday or holidays gifts for inpatients, but also contribute to various group activities and help stock the hospital’s playrooms. For a complete list of ongoing craft supplies in needs see here. 

Get your creativity on for a cause by donating a

handmade card

(or five!) to organizations like

Cards for Hospitalized Kids

. The international organization collects and distributes handmade cards to children around the world year-round; to date, they’ve helped send out snail mail to over 100,000 kids in hospitals across all 50 states. 

Keeping families connected while also keeping more out of landfills?

Cell Phones for Soldiers

is doing just that by collecting your old phones of any model to recycle or refurbish. Tablets and MP3 players in any condition are also accepted. Proceeds from these recycling processes are then used to purchase calling cards for troops. With your help, since 2008 alone, the organization has raised nearly $2 million and distributed over 500,000 prepaid calling cards. Find the nearest drop-off site to you

here

.

Have a knack for needlework? Gather around a fire

to knit

or crochet for a cause.

Warm Up America

is looking for all your handmade items, from adult hats and child-sized afghans to baby clothes and scarves. Still a beginner? You can even send in a handful of knitted or crochet squares which will later be joined into larger projects. Once collected, these items are distributed to various local shelters and hospices.

With over 200 food banks across the country, you can easily donate food to

Feeding America

, an organization that helps provide 2 billion pounds of food to hungry Americans nationwide. From canned fruits and vegetables to coffee and tea, you can help by contributing a variety of non-perishable items to your

local food bank

. Or,

click here

to learn how you can host your own community food drive. 

Don't let your old wheels sit in the driveway for another year. Instead, give your car, truck, van, or trailer a second life with

Meals on Wheels Association of America

, an organization that provides over 1 million meals to seniors in need across the country each day. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters Cars for Kids' Sake

 also raises funds through the donation of unwanted vehicles—even if they don't start—to help local kids. All types of vehicles are accepted from SUVs to farm equipment.

Did you know that picking up an extra pack of batteries, lip balm, and playing cards while you’re out shopping can help someone in need this holiday? With organizations like

Operation Gratitude

, items like these, along with other

hygiene

,

non-perishable

,

and handmade items

, fill up care packages that are sent to U.S. troops, veterans, and military families around the country.