The holiday spirit is definitely in town. Lights twinkle everywhere, carols are on the loop, and various festive ornaments decorate the metro. That magical feeling in the air grows thicker and thicker as the days pass by. Who wouldn’t get giddy over the thought of special noche buenas and Christmas parties left and right?
While the long-awaited celebration draws nearer, our Christmas to-do list gets longer and longer. Christmas shopping, monito monitas, holiday trips – it just never ends! Sadly, the other face of this season is the reality of our country’s current state. Not everyone has the means to experience the kind of festivities that we have. In the midst of the Christmas rush, we tend to forget the true essence of the season: love and service. They deserve to feel like it’s Christmas, too.
And we can definitely make that happen. Whether it be volunteering or simply donating, here are some of the charities you can offer your love to this year:
Caritas Manila
Caritas Manila was established by the late Archbishop of Manila Rufino Cardinal Santos on October 1, 1953. They offer various programs and campaigns dedicated to human development and helping the poor. Some of these are the Segunda Mana, where you can donate things to boxes designated in churches all over the region. They resell these items as ukay-ukay, and the proceeds all go to their work and charity. In celebration of Christmas, they have launched a campaign called #ShareYourChristmas.
To donate, visit this site: http://shareyourchristmas.caritasmanila.org.ph/
Or their official website for other programs: https://caritasmanila.org.ph/
World Vision
With over 60 years of service, they have dedicated themselves to battling against poverty. They help children through donors and sponsors, enabling them to gain access to education and healthcare. They offer Christmas charities where you can adopt families to give them noche buenas, or you can donate and sponsor a child’s education.
Know more about their work through here: https://www.worldvision.org.ph
Hands On Manila Foundation Inc.
This foundation was formally launched on August 2001, where they offer a different kind of service – they rely on volunteers. They believe in the power of changing lives through service and working hand-in-hand with those in need for sustainable development.
Get to know them more through here: https://handsonmanila.org/about/
Or contact them to volunteer here:
+63 2 843 7044
Habitat For Humanity Philippines
Habitat For Humanity’s mission is to give each and every family a decent place to live in. Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller.Today, Habitat for Humanity the international organization has served over 70 countries. They build and rehabilitate homes for families through their volunteers and donations.
Volunteer and donate here: https://habitat.org.ph/
Renew Foundation
Dedicated to children and women victims of trafficking and prostitution, Renew Foundation seeks to empower them through advocacy, education, as well as donors and volunteers. They offer various programs from educating teenage girls, down to counseling and legal care.
To take part in their cause, visit their website: https://www.renew-foundation.org/
Virlanie Foundaton Philippines
Founded in 1992, this foundation dedicates itself solely for the protection of the most vulnerable in society – the children. For years they have rescued children from exploitation, abuse, neglect, and the streets. They have homes dedicated to respective age groups, from newborns up to young adults.
Learn more and donate through this link: https://virlanie.org/
This season is truly the time for giving back, but what better to celebrate the new year and the rest of your life by dedicating yourself to a cause?
Let’s change the world, shall we?
