Give to New Orleans This Christmas: Donating Gifts, Toys

When you are thinking about Christmas charities, consider some of the kids who lost everything three years ago in Hurricane Katrina. This year's devastating hurricanes are on everybody's mind, but that makes it all the more important that we finish the job in New Orleans, while we also consider helping in Galveston and other hard-hit areas. Finishing the job will be hard, but one relatively easy part is helping to provide a merry Christmas for the children of New Orleans. Though there are certainly needy children in nearly every American community, I hope generous folks consider donating a couple of extra gifts to kids who lost everything. Here's a few places to start with your donations. Also remember most of these donations will be tax-deductible.

1. St Bernard Project
I recently spent nine months volunteering for the St. Bernard Project to rebuild homes in St. Bernard Parish, a suburb of New Orleans. I worked with many families that had lost everything and are still in dangerous, cramped FEMA trailers more than three years after the storm.

Most of these folks are industrious, working-class people who have toiled in the fisheries and refineries that are so vital to the rest of the country. They may have had hurricane insurance, but were told they did not need flood insurance. When Katrina dodged the parish but sent a wall of water over broken levees, they were left with nothing.

The St. Bernard Project is rebuilding their homes with volunteer labor, but the families still must scrape together funds for furniture, appliances and other home basics. Toys fall pretty low on the list, so every item for the children is truly appreciated.

Each year, the St. Bernard Project collects toys and distributes them to needy families. It is one of the most exciting, rewarding days of the year, and it makes a huge difference for the children.

Last year, I had the privilege of attending one family's first Christmas party back in their home. It meant so much to the children just to have a Christmas tree again - and their own space to play with their new toys. Please consider helping put a smile on those faces this year.

Families also donate part of their Christmas vacation each year to help rebuild homes. You can consider getting into the spirit of Christmas and donating your time.

For more information on the St. Bernard Project, visit www.stbernardproject.org or call 504-277-6831.

2. Committee for Plaquemines Recovery

Though New Orleans received the most media attention, it is worth noting the hardest-hit areas are in the outlying perimeter, closer to the Gulf and the wetlands. After St. Bernard Parish, the other parish (the Louisiana equivalent of a county) devastated in Katrina was Plaquemines Parish. The area also sustained damage during Hurricane Gustav, so folks are in tough shape and would really value a merry Christmas for the kids.

Like St. Bernard Project, the Committee for Plaquemines Recovery is rebuilding homes in the parish and would certainly appreciate any kind of donation - especially toys for the tots.

For more information on the Committee for Plaquemines Recovery, visit www.cprrebuilds.org/donate.html or call 504-656-2143.

3. Brethren Disaster Ministries

The Brethren Disaster Ministries is based in Maryland, but draws volunteers, members and donors from all over the country. Their trucks could always be seen all over St. Bernard Parish. They work hard and mobilize quickly to provide disaster relief. They also already have a branch that deals specifically with children, providing child care, counseling and other services for children, who deal with disaster very differently.

The group works directly with the neediest and most affected families, so this is a great place to donate your toys.

For more information, visit this site or call 800-451-4407.

4. The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is a reliable non-profit that works all over the country to provide hope and resources to the neediest folks. The group is working very hard in the New Orleans area to help the many, many families who still remain homeless three years after Hurricane Katrina. The group is always accepting toys, either to sell in their stores or give out at Christmas.

For more information on donating in the New Orleans area, visit this site.

5. Toys for Tots

The United States Marine Corps helps operate a wonderful charity called Toys for Tots. With its connection to the Marines, you know the group is run with the highest level of integrity and organization.

The group has chapters all over the nation, including one in New Orleans and one on the suburban West Bank, across the river from New Orleans. The group collects new, unwrapped toys during the months of October, November and December.

For more information on the New Orleans group, call Sgt. Carlos Walker at 504-678-4436. For more on the West Bank group, call Sgt. Erik Page at 504-678-3168.

6. Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities is another reliable, nationwide network of aid and support for needy families. The group is hosting its annual meeting in late September, 2008, in New Orleans, so the Gulf Coast is definitely on their minds.

The group will accept toys throughout the year, and runs several Head Start programs, community centers and after-school assemblies for children. The toys can certainly be put to good use in these centers, or as Christmas gifts for needy children.

For more information, visit here or call 504-523-3755

7. The Wishing Well Foundation

Charity in the New Orleans area is not just about volunteers from the rest of the country helping folks get back on their feet. Many observers nationwide don't realize the charitable origins of Mardi Gras and the volunteer tradition in southern Louisiana.

The Wishing Well Foundation reflects that volunteer tradition. The group is based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The organization helps make wishes come true for terminally ill children. By donating to this organization, you can provide a very special kind of Christmas present for a child in need.

For more information, visit www.wishingwellusa.org.

8. Isidore Newman School

This private school in New Orleans provides education for children from all walks of life, and has a broad range of community service events.

Please contact the school about donating toys and school supplies or see what else the school needs. Visit www.newmanschool.org or call 504-899-5641.

9. Adullam Christian Fellowship

A list of worthy charities in the New Orleans area would be incomplete without mentioning Pastor Randy Millet at the Adullam Christian Fellowship in Arabi.
The ACF is one of the most effective organizations in St. Bernard, and has helped many families in many ways.

As a parish resident, Pastor Randy would appreciate anyone reaching out with any kind of donation. He and his parishioners still need reminders that people care about them and are thinking about them, especially around the holidays.

For more information on the church, visit www.adullamchristianfellowship.org or call 504-975-2192.

10. Animal Rescue New Orleans

Dogs and cats in New Orleans and the aforementioned parishes need toys, too. The Animal Rescue of New Orleans has a specific list of needs, along with donor information, at animalrescueneworleans.org/donate.html.

Finally, a note to the cynical (and the cautious): Sending a toy to one of these organizations is a guarantee the money will go straight to the intended recipient. It's hard to use a Barbie doll or matchbox car for overhead, advertising or other efforts.