Good Housekeeping
November 2009

by Laura Hahn

’Tis the season to give thanks—and give back. Remind your child that donating to a charity doesn’t require writing a check. Sharing what’s in her closet or backpack with people in need can be a more satisfying—and more personal—way to help. Here are four ideas.

• Sports Equipment

Encourage her to pass last season’s athletic gear
to Sports Gift (sportsgift.org), which will distribute it to kids in need.

• School supplies

If your child has extra books, markers, or other items,
you can find teachers who need them at iLoveSchools.com, a nonprofit
that connects donors with teachers in U.S. classrooms.

• DVDs

Suggest she send movies that haven’t been watched in a while to
troops in Iraq and Afghanistan through AMVETS Task Force DVD
(amvets.org/taskforcedvd). Children’s titles go to families of soldiers.

• Cell phones

When your kid upgrades, check out recyclewireless
phones.com together to locate programs that recycle or refurbish old
phones, then donate proceeds to various charities.