I was bringing two bags of groceries to our local food bank when a couple with their young daughter stepped into the elevator with me. They were loaded with bags including paper towels and food. They also had piles of toiletries to donate, so much so, that they needed to bring their car around and get some help.
Where did all this bounty come from? Their little girl who looked around ten or eleven had asked for donations to this food bank instead of birthday gifts.
My son and his best friend did this for their 10th birthday. Instead of gifts, they asked for dog toys and collars to donate to a local dog shelter. They delivered it themselves and were allowed to play with the dogs. It was the best birthday ever!
Here are five ideas for kids to change the world by donating to these charities. I picked organizations whose missions would resonate with kids. And even a very small donation can change someone’s life. These are gifts that give back more: they teach children gratitude. And it turns out that gratitude is the fastest path to happiness.
1. Light is Life. A soccer ball provides light.
Soccket is a soccer ball that generates renewable energy for kids in developing countries. This ball produces electricity for light so kids and adults can read and function when it gets dark. A little bit of power can make such a huge difference.
The Soccket Education Kit is $199 or a more comprehensive set is $299.
2. Rescue youth in the most desperate situations in the world.
The HALO Foundation helps homeless and at-risk youth heal and create a future through art therapy.
HALO provides housing, healing, and education to youth in the greatest need. HALO serves more than 1,000 youth each year through 21 programs. Internationally, HALO supports youth homes and programs in Uganda, Kenya, Mexico, India, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. This includes providing food, water, shelter, clothing, education, art therapy, caretakers, and vocational training or college for youth in the greatest need. Domestically, HALO operates Learning Centers and TLP (housing) programs in Kansas City, and Jefferson City, Missouri, and programming in New York, Portland, and Los Angeles.
3. Rescue abandoned & abused dogs from Puerto Rico
The Sato Project saves abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico’s “Dead Dog Beach.”
4. Your $15 Dollar Donation Feeds a Child Lunch for the Entire Year in India, thus breaking the cycle of poverty in which kids have to work in order to eat.
Akshaya Pata: Unlimited Food for Education
My neighbor told me about Akshava Pata. She interviewed the founder for an article in The Boston Globe. She and her husband are both from India so she understands the issue around food and education for children. Her kids held two bake sales to raise money for this charity that feeds children in India. Rather than attend school, many children in India must work to earn their daily meals. The result? Poor health and educational outcomes trap them in the cycle of poverty. A mere $15 donation feeds a child’s lunch for the entire school year. This organization procures, makes, and distributes meals to 1.5 million children every day. If you want a charity where your money is hugely impactful, please consider Askhava Pata.
5. Of the 250,000 children and 8,000 youth enrolled in Magic Bus, 98% of girls make it to high school and 71% of all children graduate high school and go on to college, against a national average of 9% in India!
Magic Bus Foundation: a non-profit that lifts communities in India out of poverty by creating youth leaders while utilizing the power of play. They work with local partners to educate and employ these youth, maximizing their potential and breaking the cycle of poverty.
Here’s how to start a fundraising campaign for the Magic Bus Foundation. An easy way is for kids to ask for donations in lieu of birthday or holiday gifts.
p.s. Here are more ideas for kids to make an impact in the world by donating to charity or doing service work.
p.s. Related posts:
#GivingTuesday with Multicultural Children’s Book Day
Let’s Keep Girls in Sports by Giving Resources to Coaches: FREE Forms
Donate to Causes Under Threat #GivingTuesday
Delivering Thanksgiving Dinner to the Elderly: Our Hasbro Kindness Project
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award longlist
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Excellent post. I love what your son did for the dog shelter. Your kids are part of the alpha generation, a very compassionate group of kids. I liked your sharing info on supporting a child in poverty. We supported kids in Haiti to go to school on a monthly basis through an organization. It helps children get to know that money is helping send a child to school, receive a good meal, receive school supplies and a uniform, and receive vaccinations. We were able to send gift boxes of things the kids needed. Really enjoyed your post today. It certainly encourages kids and families to do something for someone else.
These are wonderful, Mia! Thank you so much for sharing them!
Thanks so much Maria! I hope my kids will find a charity to support on an ongoing basis.