Spread the news …
One of the easiest ways to give back is to spread the news about local events, charities and more. Create a Facebook post with a donation button, talk to your family about your experiences as a volunteer or take new recruits with you each time you go.
More than 300 students from all four divisions at The Meadows School—beginning, lower, middle and upper school—participated in the school’s inaugural holiday food drive.
Many people find themselves with a full schedule the last few months of the year. Between gift shopping, holiday parties, decorating, baking and event planning, it’s easy to get wrapped up in your own world during the season of giving. Despite the rush, it’s still important to make time to contribute to the community, and there are plenty of ways to do so without overtaking your schedule. Here are a few of the many great organizations helping the Valley and ways you can give them some love this season.
A giving snapshot
Kind actions pile up, and a little bit can go a long way. For example, the Meadows School hosted a food drive to benefit HELP of Southern Nevada. Their small actions helped the Las Vegas community in a big way.
• 304 students participated
• 1,600 pounds of food was gathered
• 1,000-plus families will benefit from their efforts this holiday season
Donate ...
• Money: Several nonprofits have monthly monetary donations on their wish list. Consider giving a little bit each month of the year, rather than just during the holidays. For the price of two lattes, you can make a big change in your community.
Notable organization: A $10 monthly donation to The Shade Tree, a local domestic violence shelter, provides goods and services such as diapers, public transportation passes and medical care to women and children on-site.
• Toys: All children deserve the joy of opening gifts beneath a Christmas tree, but many may not have the opportunity without donations from the community. For struggling families, foster kids, homeless children and victims of domestic violence situations, donated toys can transform the holidays.
Notable organization: Peggy’s Attic, the donation center for Clark County Department of Family Services, collects items for kids affected by the family court system. It’s requesting toys, as well as clothing, shoes, diapers, toiletry items and school supplies. Donations can be dropped off at 701 N. Pecos Road. 702-455-5424.
• Food: As the only food bank in Southern Nevada, Three Square was responsible for distributing more than 37 million meals in its fight against hunger in 2017. Consider helping the nonprofit by organizing a food drive or by donating food items, time and/or money. Ten dollars provides 30 meals for those in need. To learn more about regular giving, contact Tiffany Keegan at 702-644-3663 ext 334.
Volunteer throughout the year
■ Foreclosed Upon Pets, a nonprofit that cares for pets that have been abandoned or neglected because of economic hardships, needs volunteers to foster, work adoption events, drive animals to the vet and more. forecloseduponpets.org/volunteer
■ Helping Hands of Vegas Valley is looking for volunteers to help seniors by delivering groceries, organizing food drives and more. For more information, contact Brenda Jepson at 702-507-1850 or email [email protected]. hhovv.org/ volunteer-opportunities
To explore more volunteer opportunities that align with your personal interests, visit volunteermatch.org.
Volunteer ...
• The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth needs volunteers to wrap donated gifts for homeless youths during its third-annual Wrap Party on December 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the NPHY Drop-In Center, 4981 Shirley St.
• The Salvation Army is looking for bell ringers at their signature Red Kettle sites this holiday season. Bell Ringers help raise money for social services, including disaster relief, food, clothing and shelter for 25 million Americans each year. To learn more, contact Connie Brown at 702-870-4430 or email [email protected].
Vote for your favorite Christmas tree to raise money for local nonprofits
Boyd Gaming properties are hosting their fourth-annual Trees of Hope decorating competition, in which 35 local nonprofits create a topiary masterpiece to compete for more than $40,000.
Las Vegas residents and tourists can visit seven sites by December 16 to view and vote for their favorite trees in two contests—participate in the first contest by voting with a B Connected players card at the kiosks in the casinos, according to Boyd Gaming spokesman David Strow. Vote in the second contest via social media on Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin @BoydGaming. “[The public] can come out and make a difference by supporting the local charities that participate in this event,” Strow said.
Patrons can also help raise money by purchasing Trees of Hope cocktails at the properties. A dollar from every drink sold goes into a pool, and a winning nonprofit will be drawn to receive the earnings.
Trees can be viewed at the Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Sam’s Town, Main Street Station, Cannery and Aliante.
Winners will be announced during a ceremony December 20, and every nonprofit will receive a minimum of $500 for participating.
This story originally appeared in the Las Vegas Weekly.