Top Spots To Make Holiday Gift Donations In Denver
It's the holidays and the full-blown shopping season is upon you. It is time to hit the malls and brave the crowds to find those special gifts for the loved ones in your life. However, in Colorado and across the country, there are millions of people that aren't able to purchase gifts for their families and they rely on gift-giving programs to help make their children's Christmastime wishes come true. So as you are out with your family shopping and finding those special gifts, pick out an extra toy or two and consider giving it to one of these great organizations.
Toys for Tots
11420 E. 51st Ave.
Denver, CO 80239
(720) 398-5362
www.toysfortots.org
One of the longest lasting, most well-known gift donation programs is still going strong in Colorado. Since 1947, more than 166 million children have been given a gift because of donations made to the Marine's Toys for Tots program. Toys for Tots typically accepts any new toy designed for children up to age 12. The only item you cannot gift is food or a realistic-looking weapon. So with that in mind, there are plenty of wonderful gift ideas of all price ranges sure to please any child. As you are out shopping for your own families this holiday season, pick up an extra toy so another child has a very special Christmas too.
Warren Village
1323 Gilpin St.
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 321-2345
www.warrenvillage.org
For more than 23 years, Warren Village has been helping the low-income and single-parent families in Colorado. It provides safe and secure housing, along with many services to help families get back on their feet and become self sufficient once again. During the holidays, this can be even more difficult and Warren Village's Holiday Shop is a dream come true for many families. The shop is available for Warren Village parents to shop free of charge for gifts for their children, while children get to shop for their parents. And of course, all gifts are donated. Warren is in need of gifts for children from age infant through 18 years old, and asks that all gift donations be new and unwrapped.
Adopt-A-Family
Denver Human Services
1200 Federal Blvd.
Denver, CO 80204
(720) 944-4483
www.denvergov.org/humanservices
Denver Human Services offers many ways to give year round, and the Adopt-A-Family program is a perfect giving opportunity to get the whole family involved. Register online to adopt a family and you will be able to help that entire family have a wonderful Christmas. It is a great lesson in giving to take your children to the stores and help them pick out toys for another child, or to help find a special gift for another mom or dad. And plenty of families will be so thankful that you did.
Related: 2012 Denver Holiday Theater Preview
SafeHouse Denver
1649 Downing St.
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 302-6111
www.safehouse-denver.org
SafeHouse Denver is a very important organization serving "victims of domestic violence and their children." It offers an emergency shelter as well as counseling and many other important services that are so valuable for many Colorado women and children. SafeHouse also offers an Adopt-A-Family program and it is currently seeking donors. For the holiday season, consider adopting another family in need and provide gifts that everyone in the family will be able to enjoy to make their Christmas wishes come true.
Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
