1. Skip to navigation
  2. Skip to content
  3. Skip to sidebar

Topics:

3 ways to give back for the holidays in the GTA

Does your family want to donate to or volunteer for a charity this holiday season, but you don't know where to start? Here's some helpful information on how you can give back

By
//
Originally published on TodaysParent.com December 06, 2011

Every year, it seems, parents struggle with how commercial the Christmas season has become. It doesn’t sit right with a lot of us, and we want to make sure we’re giving something back.

“There’s lots of organizations that do more around the holidays, such as making special meals, delivering Christmas packages and adopting families,” says Maggie Leithead, president and CEO of CharityVillage.com, a Canadian resource guide for charities.

But, with more than 80,000 charities registered in Canada, choosing can be difficult. One way to simplify your giving plan is to keep it local. Consider helping out your neighbours in need right here in the GTA. Here’s what you need to know.

Toy drives

A variety of organizations and businesses collect toys to disperse to needy families for Christmas morning — and with the closure of the City of Toronto’s Christmas Bureau this year, the need is even greater this year.

How to donate: Some organizations specify the age and gender of the recipient you’re buying for, while others will take whatever toys — including gently used ones — you drop off.

How to volunteer: You can help with shopping, sorting, gift-wrapping or delivering the toys.

Finding organizations: While some exist solely to round up Christmas toys, many churches, community groups and a growing list of local businesses are also getting involved in the effort. You can also hold your own neighbourhood drive and take the collected gifts to the organization of your choice. Here are a few GTA options to consider:

• CP24 Chum Christmas Wish
• CTV/Salvation Army Toy Mountain
• Yonge Street Mission
• Toronto Fire Fighters and Toronto Police both hold toy drives throughout the city
• The Drake Hotel Warming Hearts Holiday Drive

Subscribe to Today's Parent for just $14.95* That's only $1.25 an issue!

May We Also Suggest...

What do you think?