COMMUNITY KIDS CLOSET
This is by far one of my favorite organizations to donate to during the fall and spring. It's local to Northwest Arkansas. Basically they run a clothes campaign (they accept monetary donations as well) for kids living below the poverty line in our local school system. They provide 2 shirts, 2 bottoms (either shorts or pants, depending on season), shoes, socks and underwear. The first year I heard about this clothing drive I nearly broke down in tears as the lady told me that sometimes this is the ONLY clothes these kids have for the year. They don't have a website, but if you are interested in helping, I can get you in touch with someone through our church I'm sure.This year I let Brayden pick out the clothes for the little boy. He was so excited to pick out the light up tennis shoes :)Last year was our first year to do the shoebox campaign. I sat in front of the computer watching videos of a little boy get excited about a tooth brush, and tears just streamed down my face. I'm almost 100% convinced that the thing that breaks my heart the most is underprivileged children. We're participating in the campaign again this year and I'm so excited because I think Brayden will understand it a little more. I think this is a great way to expand our kids world view and help them see just how truly blessed we are.
Loving Choices is a local pregnancy center in Northwest Arkansas that offers options based counseling for young women facing unplanned pregnancy (they also offer STD testing). All services are free, and they walk young girls through the entire process of pregnancy, equipping them with the information they need to make the right decisions. Regardless of what the young woman chooses, they walk with them every step of the way, showing them the love of Jesus. I really feel like they are making a difference in the lives of young people in our area.
The SCC is a local non-profit organization that offers a soup kitchen and food pantry, among other things, to our local community in need. Before I had Brayden I volunteered in the food pantry and helped served food in the soup kitchen. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had, and hope that once the boys get a little bit older that we can serve there as a family. They accept donations just like Goodwill, so if you are local and need to get rid of gently used household items, think about donating it to SCC. Their thrift stores help support their operations, and everything they do is Christ-centered.
What charity do you enjoy volunteering or supporting?