50 Ways to Help Children

• Helping Hungry Children
• Helping Homeless Children
  
• Helping Children in Hospitals
  
• Helping Neighborhood or At-Risk Children
  
• Helping Children in Low-Performing Schools
  
• Helping Abused Children
  
• Helping Children Using the Government

HELPING HUNGRY CHILDREN

1. Know the facts. The first step to ending hunger is to learn about it. As you learn, teach your friends, colleagues, and children. Make and distribute flyers, posters and pamphlets about the problem of hunger. Facts about hunger and poverty.
2. Help out at a foodbank to help give food to hungry families.
3. Organize a food drive at your office, church, or neighborhood. Collect food and bring it to shelters.
4. Raise money by having a talent show, race, or other event, and donate the proceeds to ending hunger organizations.
5. Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper about childhood hunger in the United States.
6. Have a garage sale for the whole neighborhood and donate the proceeds to a hunger organization.
7. Create "Ending Hunger" clubs and programs in your community and workplace.
8. If you know of a family that is hungry and don't know whom to contact for help, you can call the Lifeline National Hotline at 800-HUNGRY2, and the operators will be able to give you the location of the nearest foodbank or organization that is feeding hungry families in your community.

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HELPING HOMELESS CHILDREN

1. Bring books, crayons, pads, and art supplies to children in homeless shelters.
2. Bring a bag of groceries to a homeless shelter.
3. Brighten up their holidays. People who live in homeless shelters already feel pretty bad. A kind gesture or gift could make their day. Bring a Christmas stocking/ornament, Hanukkah menorah, or Kwanzaa display.
4. Create a "Back to School" day drive. Collect and/or purchase school supplies for children at shelters -- pens, pencils, art supplies, notebooks, backpacks, lunch boxes, and the like -- so they have what they need for their first day of school.
5. Have a ball. Bring toys, board games, and cards to a local homeless shelter.
6. Volunteer to help a child in a shelter with their reading or math.
7. Support an organization that helps homeless and hungry children by browsing our JustGive Guide.

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HELPING CHILDREN IN HOSPITALS

1. Brighten up their room by creating decorations -- paper flowers, leaves, snowflakes, raindrops -- depending on the season. This is a great activity for kids to get involved in.
2. Many children in hospitals are bored. Bring them art supplies, paper, crayons, and colored markers so they can create their own art to hang.
3. Cheer them up. Bring in a book of jokes, and volunteer to read them to other children. Sure to get some giggles!
4. Distribute phone cards to children who want to call loved ones.
5. Become a pen pal to a child in the hospital.
6. Throw a party for a child who has few visitors.

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HELPING NEIGHBORHOOD OR AT-RISK CHILDREN

1. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister.
2. Fight to keep a park open -- drug-free and litter-free.
3. Keep an eye out for kids in your neighborhood -- start a neighborhood watch program.
4. Organize a neighborhood meeting and discuss the special needs of children in your area.
5. Organize a neighborhood clean-up day.
6. Start a neighborhood reading group.
7. Take in a foster child.

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HELPING CHILDREN IN LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS

1. Help out in a school lunchroom, gym, or playground.
2. Be a volunteer teacher's aide or tutor.
3. Donate materials to your local school -- books, art supplies, sports equipment, computer equipment
4. Volunteer at a local childcare center.
5. Chaperone a field trip for local school children.
6. Become active in your PTA.
7. Run for your local school board.

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HELPING ABUSED CHILDREN

1. Report child abuse using the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline. Here are some tips.
2. Volunteer to take calls for a Child Abuse hotline.
3. Volunteer to work in a shelter for abused children.
4. Become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer. CASA volunteers are assigned to an abuse or neglect case by a judge. They conduct thorough research on the background of the case, reviewing documents, interviewing everyone involved, including the child. They make reports to the court, recommending what they believe is best for the child, providing the judge with information that will help her make an informed decision.
5. Write a letter to your congressman or woman expressing your concern about the foster care system and suggest reform!
6. Start a Child Abuse Prevention Program in your community. Learn more here.
7. Support a Child Abuse organization.

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HELPING CHILDREN USING THE GOVERNMENT

1. Find out who your representatives are and ask them what they're doing to help children in your area.
2. Express your concern to your elected leaders about the impact of budget decisions on children.
3. Ask candidates running for office what they intend to do for children.
4. Write to legislators and ask them to include children's needs in health reform proposals.
5. Ask local officials what they intend to do to protect children from environmental hazards.
6. Ask elected officials what they will do to ensure a high-quality education for every child.
7. Organize a neighborhood visit to a city council or other local government meeting to ask them to put a high priority on safe streets and quality schools.
8. Plan a visit to the state capitol with your children to help educate them about government; drop by your legislator's office and let them know that you put a high priority on the future of our children.

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"The noblest charity is that which eliminates or reduces an individual's dependence on charity."

"The most compassionate and benevolent help is that which is provided quietly, and is deeply respectful of an individual's sense of worth and personal dignity."