7 faith groups that come bearing gifts and hope during the holiday season

By Jamie Sharabani

The winter holidays are a time for giving. We tend to reflect on what we should be grateful for and how we can help those who are less fortunate. Many organizations–especially religious ones–open their doors, create fundraisers, and give back to those in need. If there is a time when faith and giving back intersect, it is definitely this time of year.

The tradition of giving back has become so significant during the winter holidays that December has been designated “National Giving Month.” One statistic shows that one-third of the nation’s annual giving happens in December.

If you’re wondering how you can get involved with faith-based organizations that are giving back to their communities this winter, check out some of the organizations below:

1. Samaritan’s Purse

“Operation Christmas Child” is run by Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian organization that provides Christmas gifts to children in some of the hardest-to-reach places in the world. Participants sign up to pack a shoebox full of gifts and then take it to a local drop-off spot for global distribution.

2. The Salvation Army

When you hear the bells ringing, you know it’s time to grab some coins for the red kettle. Each year the donations go to provide Christmas dinners, clothing, and toys for families in need. If possible, you may want to take a shift and have your child or children help you collect donations.

3. Islamic Relief USA

Islamic Relief USA works all year round to ensure that during the holiday season, families have a place to stay, food on their plates, and clothing to help them survive the winter months. Their Winter Aid reaches 14 different countries through 16 different projects.

4. Meals of Hope

Holidays Without Hunger includes food-packing events hosted by Meals of Hope that aim to package 1,000,000 Christmas meals in just a few hours. The events mobilize friends, families, churches, and more to come together to give back during the holiday season.

5. Jewish Children’s Regional Service

Every year, Jewish Children’s Regional Services sends out boxes to children who don’t have the means to celebrate Hanukkah. Many of these families are immigrants, have special needs, are recovering from natural disasters, and/or are struggling financially. The gifts are accompanied by handmade cards, and traditional Hanukkah items, such as dreidels and gelt.

6. Prison Fellowship

Angel Tree is a Prison Fellowship program that gives parents behind bars a way to restore and strengthen relationships with their children through a tangible experience of God’s love. With the help of donations, a child of a person who is incarcerated is allowed to receive gifts from their parent through an “angel.”

7. The Voice of the Martyrs

Each year, The Voice of the Martyrs works through its global network to reach the children of persecuted Christians in restricted nations and hostile areas with a special Christmas Care Pack. The packs are filled with items tailored to meet the needs of each of the children including clothing, toys, school supplies, and many other things. The pack also includes an illustrated children’s Bible and, for many, it is their first Bible!

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Jamie Sharabani is a student at American University in Washington, D.C. working towards a bachelor’s degree in Public Health. Before attending American, she spent two years in a combat infantry unit in the Israeli military. Outside of school, Jamie is a DC-based freelance writer and has a passion for volunteering in her surrounding community.

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Many faiths have different concepts of the importance of giving back. In Islam, it is called “Zakat,” meaning to grow in purity, and Muslims are encouraged to give 2.5% of their annual assets (income). In both Judaism and Christianity, there is a concept of giving 10% of one’s annual income to charity. While Christianity looks to the New Testament for this concept of a “tithe,” Judaism looks to the Torah for concepts of “tzedakah,” meaning justice, and “ma’aser” meaning tithing (World Economic Forum).

There are many other religions and faiths that believe in this concept and this does not only mean giving back with money. Sometimes, people are not in a place to give back to others with money, but faiths go far beyond simply giving money. When someone is not able to give money, many faiths proclaim that someone’s time is just as valuable whether it is volunteering in a shelter or helping an individual in need.