At our core, we humans are giving, collaborative, and supportive. We want the best for those around us, and it’s painful to hear of misfortune or poverty – especially for children. The United States has some harrowing statistics, with one in six children living in poverty and some poverty markers continuing to get worse as the year’s progress. What may seem daunting to some is a hopeful challenge to others – an opportunity to improve and make things better, to make a difference.
Perhaps you want to help, but you don’t know how, or maybe you already sponsor a child and are looking for additional ways to get involved. This article outlines five ways to support a child in need and provides information on the best child charity services.
Donate to a charity
While the best child charity may be unknown, countless organizations offer donation schemes and provide exceptional services to children in need. You could donate to Compassion International to advocate for children and release them from their spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty. Or Pearl S. Buck International, who build better lives for children all around the globe. It’s essential to choose a child charity that you align with and you genuinely believe are doing good work. Charity Navigator might be a good place to start. Charity Navigator is where you can look into the financials of the charity to ensure their work goes to children in need.
If you are in the Cincinnati area, like The Henzi Foundation, we recommend looking into donating (or more interestingly donating your time) to A Child’s Hope International. For a few hours on a weekend you can donate your time measuring and stuffing bags of food destined for families in need. Not only is this helpful to children in need, and you can see your contribution laid out in front of you, but it can be a fun time to meet people who also enjoy helping children. Consquentially they have a very high Charity Navigator rating as their donations almost all go to those in need.
Sponsor a child
One of the most significant ways to impact a child in need is through sponsorship. You will be responsible for that child’s wellbeing, and the money you donate will go directly to that child. You will know their name and can even send letters or postcards to foster a relationship with them.
There are many great ways and easy ways to sponsor a child as well;
- Children.org, Children International, has an online search page to find a child to sponsor in moments.
- The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, has a great portal to child sponsorship programs.
- Save the Children has been in service since 1919 and helping children worldwide. (Disclosure: Joe Henzi sponsors a child through this charity). In terms of child distress prevention and overall charity, Save the Children scores a 91 of 100 at Charity Navigator – an impresive score. If you’re interested in sponsoring a child, this link will help you get started.
- OneChild also has child sponsorship programs to look into. They have a worthy cause that is near my heart – helping children escape the cycle of poverty.
Give the gift of reading
Reading is not only key to a good education, but it offers children an exploration into another world different from theirs. It’s exciting and thrilling. However, 32.4 million American children go without books. Kids Need to Read provides book collections and engaging literacy programs to underfunded schools and libraries across the United States.
An easy and yet exciting way to help spread literacy in America, to both adults and children alike, is to participate in the Little Free Library. If you have these boxes near you think about contributing your books to them – you may find a gem you’d like to read as well. If you do not have one, it’s easy to get started and they’ll provide the plans.
Give old shoes a new home
Another child charity is Soles for Souls who focus on donating pairs of shoes to children in need. You can clear out your closet knowing that you are making a difference in a child’s life.
Soles for Souls doesn’t just have donation centers either. They will take your old shoe donations for children with free shipping in partnership with Zappos.
Donate to a food bank
One of the most immediate ways contribute to a child charity is by buying food for a food bank. Hunger in America exists for over 50 million people – including more than 1 in 5 children. The food you donate will go directly to a less fortunate child who is in need of additional support. Keep an eye out when you next shop, as many supermarkets have collection baskets for food banks.
Due to Coronavirus more than ever children need help with access to food because of school closures. You can donate to various places such as No Kid Hungry or search online to find your local food bank (Feeding America).
About Us
We are a child charity committed to helping both children and families in need when facing a horrible experience; The loss of a loved one.
We aim to help in providing financial relief to families or caregivers of children to assist with expenses associated with an unexpected loss, and we provide relief regardless of the child’s race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or cause of the loved one’s death. If you would like to donate or to get involved, please contact us today.
Why We Need Your Support
- 1 in 6 children live in poverty – they are the poorest age group in America.
- Some financial “experts” don’t even recommend carrying life insurance on your children.
- Life insurance policies for children are not a sound investment for your child – so many people don’t buy a policy in favor of saving for their child’s college expenses.
- The average funeral in the United States is more than $10,000!
- Because of this, children are under-insured, only slightly more than half of American adults carry life insurance for themselves.