Use These Apps to Buy Gifts for Strangers This Christmas
Giving a gift to a complete stranger is a great way to celebrate the holiday mood, but you need to know where and how to do it first. Giving something to a random person on the street is not the most effective method, and some charities do not clarify where your donation is actually going. Fortunately, there are also many reliable charity programs out there. Here are five places you can give a gift this year and trust that it will go to whoever appreciates it.
Toys for toddlers
One of the most famous donation programs is also one of the best. Only 3% of Toys for Tots’ cash donations go towards fundraising costs, with the remaining 97% going directly to children in need. (If you need more proof, you can check the tax forms and audits of organizations on her website.)
Toys of Tots also offers several ways to donate money, donate a toy, or support one of the organization’s social programs. An extensive network of local chapters and convenient online menus make donating even easier.
OneSimpleWish
A similar program is OneSimpleWish , which connects donors with foster children. The organization publishes on its website the specific wishes of the children along with the amount of dollars it will need to meet them. Thus, you can donate the amount you want to buy, provided that it is important to you.
In addition, the site contains “big wishes” for families, which tend to cost more, such as a new washer and dryer; these items are funded through crowdfunding. You can see how the funding is progressing and decide to donate accordingly.
OneSimpleWish has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Top-Rated award from GreatNonprofits, so you know your donation will really help your foster child.
Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
Prison Fellowship runs year-round philanthropy programs, but with December donations accounting for 30% of annual donations, its Angel Tree program may be its largest fundraiser. The program collects money to send gifts to children on behalf of their imprisoned parents. Since one in 49 children in the United States has a parent in prison, this is a chance to change the lives of many people for the better.
If you would like to know how these donations affect children, you can read the stories of real children who received gifts from the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree. The program also accepts in-kind donations and funds additional activities such as summer camps and sports camps.
Covenant House
During the holidays, Covenant House specializes in supporting homeless children. The organization operates in 31 cities in six countries , providing shelter and care for homeless and trafficked youth.
You can make a gift in person at any of the Covenant House offices, or browse their gift catalog to donate online. They also accept donations in cash, and you can view their audit and tax reports to make sure your donations go directly to helping children in need.
r / RandomKindness
A less traditional way of giving a present to a stranger this season is to browse the r / RandomKindness subreddit , which highlights requests from needy Redditors, allowing you to find an occasion that will touch your heart and you can pitch it directly. If you have something specific, you can make an offer and see if anyone needs it.
Some popular posts this month include one Redditor thanking three users for making their birthday special ; offer for warm clothes and blankets ; and $ 10 at Starbucks for those in need of transportation.
The subreddit has rules for requests and offers to help fight fraud and ensure that people who really need help get it.