The festive season is synonymous with big family meals, lazy lie-ins, and the sharing of love, memories, and laughs. Christmas is also the season of giving, so take the time to give to your loved-ones as well as to give back to your community.
Here are some charitable buys, acts, and gifts for you to consider this magical season…
ALSO SEE: Our Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide For 2019
1. Santa Cause for Paws
This organisation collects gifts and treats for puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats in shelters. All the work done for these shelter animals is done by a group of volunteers who offer up their time to ensure our nation’s furry friends are well taken care of.
You can donate money directly to the charity, but if you have a bit of spare time on your hands, consider packing a box for drop-off in needy areas.
If you’re considering packing a box for shelter animals, here’s a brief guide of what they’ll be needing (or wanting to find under the Christmas tree):
- Two yum treats for the animals to eat
- A blanket for their enclosure
- A toy or two (it’s Christmas, after all)
- Something useful like a leash, collar, water bowl, or food dish
2. LUSH Charity Pot
LUSH’s beauty and skincare products are binge-worthy all year round, and this is a fact. But what makes LUSH extra special, is their launch of the Charity Pot. In line with the season of giving, LUSH donates 100% of the price to local environmental conservation, animal welfare and human rights organisation.
So what exactly is the Charity Pot? Well, it’s an indulgent vegan hand and body lotion that’s sure to leave you feeling great. The ingredients include Fair Trade shea butter, moringa oil, rosewood oil, and ylang ylang oil.
Giving has never been this simple: head down to your nearest LUSH store or order your Charity Pot online.
ALSO SEE: Smell Like Your Favourite Bath Bomb With Lush’s Latest Perfume
3. Santa Shoebox Project
This charity may be one of the most well-known when it comes to spreading love during the festive season. The Santa Shoebox Project collects personalised, unique gifts for underprivileged children throughout South Africa and Namibia. Since its launch in 2006, the charity has distributed over 800 000 gifts to the children who need them most!
The concept is simple: fill a shoebox with an assortment of toiletries, toys and treats. Then indicate on the box’s wrapping whether it’s intended for a boy or girl, as well as the age of the child you packed for. The next step is to drop it off at your nearest Santa’s Shoebox depot.
If the festive season has you over-worked and running out of time, you can also give a financial donation which will ensure that a child in a rural area also gets to open a present on Christmas morning.
4. The Mustadafin Foundation
The Mustadafin Foundation was founded in 1986 and has since committed to feeding 15 000 people daily. This charity also runs various health awareness campaigns, administers tertiary bursaries, support groups, and aids in skills development.
Moreover, this charity ensures that food parcels are distributed annually over Eid and Christmas time to over 3000 families. No wonder it is recognised as one of the top five welfare and relief organisations in our country!
To help this foundation out during the season of giving (and beyond), you can volunteer your time or make a donation.
5. Cadbury GenerosiTrees
Cadbury is making it easy to show you care this season of giving. Here’s how: Cadbury invites you to donate pre-loved, secondhand toys, books, or games at one of their GenerosiTree sites. This initiative offers support to dozens of local charities for children.
All of the items collected at the GenerosiTrees will be distributed to thousands of orphaned or vulnerable children from across the country. As Christmas stockings are filled with new toys, make sure you give the old ones a good home this festive season.
Keep an eye out for the Cadbury GenerosiTree that will be at Mall of Africa from 10 to 16 December.
ALSO SEE: How To Prepare Your Home For The Festive Season
By Features Writer, Ashton Kirsten
