The holiday season often brings out the generous spirit in us all. Looking for ways to donate your time, money or resources to charitable causes within our community? Check out these ways to give back in Prince William County.

Sponsor a Child

You can sponsor a Prince William County disadvantaged youth over the holiday season. There are several charitable organizations that will provide you with information regarding each child’s age, sex, clothing size and holiday wish-list. You can enjoy your shopping experience, knowing your contributions will bring holiday cheer to a local child.

• Un-trim-a-tree Holiday Gift Program
• The Salvation Army Angel Trees

Gifting for Families

You can help make the holiday season brighter for hundreds of families in Northern Virginia by donating, volunteering or even organizing a community coat drive. Many family services organizations accept furniture, household items, clothes and gift cards that can be distributed to families in need. Want a more hands-on experience? Volunteer at their thrift shops, food pantries or shelters.

• Northern Virginia Family Services
• House of Mercy

Visit the Elderly

Help make a senior citizen’s holiday a little brighter by visiting a local nursing home or assisted living center. Many nursing homes welcome visits from people within the community. Contact the activities director at your local nursing home to schedule a date and time. Then gather your family, friends, neighbors or youth group and go caroling. I guarantee you will love seeing all the warm smiles.

• Birmingham Green
• Westminster at Lake Ridge

Foster an Animal

The animal shelter’s foster care program provides temporary housing and care for dogs, cats and other animals that are not quite ready to be adopted. These animals include puppies and kittens under two months old, mothers with nursing litters, dogs and cats with medical conditions or injuries and special-needs fosters. If you are looking to make a difference in the life of an animal over the holidays, fostering may be the way to go. Other opportunities to help animals include volunteering with the SPCA, hosting a pet food drive or doing community outreach.

• Prince William County Animal Shelter
• Prince William SPCA

Donate Food

Local food pantries provide over 50,000 pounds of food each month to those in need in the Prince William County community. They are in urgent need of canned and dried foods, toiletries (diapers, soap, feminine hygiene products, etc) and perishable items (eggs, meats, fruits, etc). Over the holiday season, food donations become particularly important as children are not receiving meals in school. Please consider picking up a few extra items to donate the next time you are out grocery shopping.

• ACTS (Action in Community Through Service)
• Haymarket Regional Food Pantry

SERVE

One of the nonprofits we support regularly is SERVE. The Manassas-based SERVE campus houses a variety of programs that help our neighbors receive the immediate assistance they need, such as food and shelter, and develop the potential for future success, including rapid re-housing, health access and services for children. SERVE has been part of the Greater Prince William community since 1975 and merged with NVFS in 2009.

Taking time out of the busy holiday season to give to or serve others in the community is a rewarding and  invaluable experience for all. Your generosity and kindness will spread some cheer and goodwill throughout our community this holiday season.

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