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Local Giving Opportunities For Families

October 30, 2014
There are countless ways to give and volunteer in the Greater Cleveland area. Here are a few organizations that could use your help this holiday season. They all do amazing work! Want to list your organization? Send volunteer opportunities and/or a wish list to jennys@macaronikid.com.

Beech Brook
For 162 years, Beech Brook has been serving Northeast Ohio’s most vulnerable children. Today, as a leading behavioral health agency, Beech Brook serves more than 24,000 children, teens and families each year. For more information about Beech Brook, visit www.beechbrook.org. For holiday giving, check out the Children's Holiday Wish List here.

Caring Cubs
Many families think about giving back this time of year but they are also very busy during this time. Caring Cubs requires no commitment but gives families a monthly opportunity to give back to a different organization and with a variety of events. For information on upcoming events or to join the email list, visit www.caringcubs.org.
Caring Cubs also has openings on the board for adults who are interested in helping manage the organization.

Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center
There are several ways that families can help the DVCAC:
1. Host a cell phone drive to collect old cell phones (they do not have to work) that will either be used for emergency use only by victims, or be recycled with proceeds supporting programs for victims.
2. Adopt a Family for the holiday season. Purchase items on their wish list so that they can provide gifts to their loved ones.
3. Have a drive to get items for our Twinkle Shop event. This event allows our shelter residents to "shop" for their families without any cost to them.
4. Host a drive to get general items that our shelter currently needs.
5. Cook a meal for a shelter. These meals are prepared off-site and dropped off. No personal service is allowed.    
For more information and to get involved, check out www.dvcac.org

Kisses from Heaven
Kisses from Heaven delivers gift bags to families whose babies are in area NICUs to offer them a moment of happiness during their stressful time of caring for a baby in the NICU. Kisses from Heaven will be delivering another round of gift baskets to area hospitals in December. They could use items such as new preemie sized sleepers, decorative journals, $10.00 gas station gift cards and the Guess How Much I Love You board book. View the full list of items and sign up to donate here.

Northeast Ohio SPCA
The Northeast Ohio SPCA, located in Parma, has a wish list for their shelter.
For a list of other volunteer opportunities, check out their website.

Project Night Night
Project Night Night does the amazing work of providing night time comforts to homeless children. Here are ways you can support them:
1. Shop their Amazon Wish List 
*Holidays are coming and they are so grateful for influx of new, high quality product
2. Tribute gifts for family, friends, co-workers and teachers during the upcoming holiday season. Project Night Night will send a card to the recipient letting them know a gift was made in their name.
3. See Other ways to get involved.

SC4K Socks & Underwear Drive
SC4K is the only non-profit organization in Greater Cleveland providing new shoes and clothes to thousands of children in need at no charge throughout the year. Since they only accept new items, one of the easiest and best ways to help is by holding a sock and underwear drive. For more information visit www.sc4k.org.