Nanny to Mommy

Pack a Shoe Box for Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child - Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 157 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.

Encourage Your Child to Contribute to Toys for Tots - whether they do so with their own money or you lead by example. The basic mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas. The primary goal of Marine Toys for Tots is, through the gift of a new toy, help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America's less fortunate children. They also have a literacy program.

Participate in The Salvation Army Angel Tree and "Adopt" a child's Christmas Wish -  I'm still not completely sure if this program is local to me or in other places. Angel Tree was created by The Salvation Army in 1979 by Majors Charles and Shirley White when they worked with a Lynchburg, Virginia shopping mall to provide clothing and toys for children at Christmas time. The program got its name because the Whites identified the wishes of local children by writing their gift needs on Hallmark greeting cards that featured pictures of angels. They placed the cards on a Christmas tree at the mall to allow shoppers to select children to help. Thanks to the Whites, who were assigned by The Army to the Lynchburg area at the time, more than 700 children had a brighter Christmas that first year.

Get an Advent Calendar - whether bought or homemade. We have a Precious Moments Nativity Advent Calendar and then a homemade one as well. I added the Christmas story to our homemade advent calendar from a printable I found online many years ago. What I love about our new advent calendar from Precious Moments is that each character tells a different part of the Christmas story, so my children learn about Jesus' birth and the true meaning of Christmas.

Uber Delivers "Meals on Wheels" - This one you would have to do the driving, but you definitely could still have your child involved. Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. Meal on Wheels People

zulily Books for Kids
Now through December 12, zulily is teaming up with Penguin Random House and First Book, to help provide books to children in need across the country. zulily launched special sales events that will feature a curated selection of children’s books. Each Penguin Random House book purchased labeled with the “BUY 1, GIVE 1” badge will trigger a new children’s book donation, up to 100,000 books, to First Book, a nonprofit that provides new books and other essentials to children in need nationwide. In addition, each time a shopper likes, shares or comments on a Books for Kids social media post, a book donation will be triggered.

J&J Wisdom by Kids
You know when a kid says something that makes you do a double take? Kids really do say the darndest things, and often times, surprisingly, the smartest. That’s why Johnson & Johnson created Wisdom by Kids, a digital tool that turns the wise things kids say into a unique and memorable piece of art – all while supporting children’s health around the world. In celebration of Save the Children’s 100 year anniversary, Johnson & Johnson has gifted the organization the Wisdom by Kids platform through 2019. It’s pretty simple: every time you create a quote and share it on social media, Johnson & Johnson will donate $1 to Save the Children – up to $1,000,000! Check out the platform here and give it a try! It saves kids’ words and saves children’s lives in the process.

What ways do you teach your child the true meaning of Christmas?