Spread Christmas cheer with these 5 charities & organizations

At this point, we know you’ve all made your list, checked it twice, and bought your gifts for both the naughty and nice. But before you proceed to Noche Buena/Media Noche planning, and counting yourself as #blessed, why not spare a few moments for those who need help? Donate to these worthwhile programs and causes in time for the holidays. Then continue supporting them and their other initiatives (as well as other groups and their efforts) for 2019 and beyond, because the spirit of giving has no final deadline.

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Now on its 13th year, World Vision Philippines’ Noche Buena Campaign aims to provide holiday meals for its beneficiary families and communities. So far, the organization has assisted “more than 33,000 Filipino homes” through its Noche Buena packs: ingredients for spaghetti and fruit salad (pancit for some communities), canned goods, and juice for two children and their families. Visit the page of World Vision’s Noche Buena campaign now and donate P1,000 for one family, preferably before December 14.

Caritas Manila has plenty of ongoing and year-round campaigns and fundraisers, but its #ShareYourChristmas program is the timeliest in this case. Its primary focus is to provide the less fortunate with what they need for the holidays, given the current national economic and health issues we face. Head on over to to their page to support this initiative.

Aside from outright monetary donations, you can also help out by buying a charity or organization’s merchandise; the money would then finance other programs and initiatives. Kythe Foundation’s Christmas Giving campaign does just that, with merch ranging from Christmas card packs (four cards in one pack) to hoodies with religious and motivational slogans, and a hoodie pouch. And with a P200-P1,500 price range, your assistance is also budget-friendly! Go to their page for more details.

Gawad Kalinga has also run its fair share of Christmas programs, but this time around, we’d like to emphasize its ongoing Kusina ng Kalinga campaign. Targeting the widespread hunger of Filipino children in schools, communities and crisis areas through 12 kitchens—and feeding an estimated 20,000 children with lunch meals every day—the KnK effort is one definitely worth supporting.

Donate P3,300 to support a child’s meals for one year, volunteer at the kitchens, start your own KnK activity, or share campaign-related stories at their page. You can also check out Gawad Kalinga’s concurrent efforts at their page.

And when we say “help the less fortunate,” we don’t just mean people. Animals require assistance from us “hoomans,” too! We see social media posts and news headlines all the time about animals being mistreated; and/or needing food, shelter, spaying/neutering, medicine/treatment, and temporary homes. The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has programs that address all these issues, but we’re also thinking its Foster Home Program would really make a cat or dog happy and taken care of this season– or longer, depending on its needs.

It’s also a great way to do your part in getting animals off the streets and readying them for loving homes. Visit their page for more information on how to be a foster parent to a catto or doggo. And if you’re leaning more toward monetary donations right now, go to their page to see your options for one-time gifts and quarterly/monthly donations.