By Dana DiSante
November is a time to reflect on the previous year and be grateful for the good things in life. That thankfulness often inspires us to give back to the community and to those most in need. A common way to accomplish that is to create a care package for a local nonprofit, which will ensure it’s delivered to the right hands. Here is how you can assemble the most commonly asked-for care packages this holiday season.
For Soldiers
The brave men and women who serve our country often don’t get to come home for the holidays, and as a result, charities and nonprofits ask for community-sourced packages offering essentials and gifts to boost spirits. Here are some of the most-needed items you should include:
Activity Items: video and board games, cards, movies, music, books and magazines
Personal Items: body wash, Vicks VapoRub, lip balm, topical pain relief cream, baby wipes, sunscreen, ChapStick, disposable razors, toothbrushes, floss and foot powder
Snacks: beef jerky, sunflower seeds, barbecue sauce, peanuts in cans with lids, coffee or cappuccino packets, candy, gum and breath mints
For Food Drives
Northern Virginia Family Service’s Operation Turkey is a Thanksgiving food drive that provides more than 800 families in the area with food for the holidays. This organization is one of many collecting canned foods and other necessities for families to host their own holiday meals. Assembling a Thanksgiving care package can range from a single can or donating an entire meal, so here are a few items that are asked for during this time of the year:
Canned Items: canned vegetables, pumpkin, fruit, applesauce, cranberry sauce, soup, gravy and pasta with sauce
Other Food Items: stuffing, sweet potatoes, cornbread mix, muffin mix, rice, sugar, coffee, flour, pudding and boxed desserts
For Children
The spirit of giving extends beyond our own families and friends. During this holiday season, every child should get to open a present on Christmas Day. Toys for Tots helps to make this possible by hosting toy drives, and although the organization doesn’t ask for specific toys in order to ensure diversity in donations, it has the following guidelines:
Unwrapped toys for young children
Original shrink-wrapped DVDs, CDs and video games
For the Homeless
Northern Virginia Family Service also helps those with insufficient housing accommodations throughout the year, including the holiday season. Here are some items the organization encourages participants to donate:
Cleaning Supplies: laundry detergent, Clorox wipes and soap
Meals: cheese, milk, eggs, fruit and vegetables
Children Supplies: toothbrushes, diapers, wipes, baby formula, baby blankets, onesies and baby food
Adult Supplies: toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, toilet paper, napkins, tissues, disposable plates and cups
For Shelters: pillows, new and lightly used sheets, blankets, bus fare, paper products, Target and Walmart gift cards and new underwear and socks
