Opportunities to help local families this holiday season around Fredericksburg, VA
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Here are some opportunities to bring joy to local families, & animals in the VA area:
- If you picked up an angel from a Salvation Army angel tree, gifts are due back by Monday to a Walmart customer service desk or to the Salvation Army store on Lafayette Boulevard.
- The Rappahannock VA Area Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police is collecting donations for its annual Cops and Kids Project (formerly known as Shop with a Cop). Money raised is used to provide local children 12 and under—who are recommended to the lodge by school counselors, the Brisben Center and Loisann Hope House—with $100 to spend at Target in Central Park on shopping day, Saturday, Dec. 10. Off-duty police in uniform will shop with the children. Monetary donations can be mailed to “FOP #15 Cops and Kids, P.O. Box 7995, Fredericksburg 22404-7995.” Call 540/891-0491 with questions.
- Embrace Treatment Foster Care invites you to stuff a stocking for local kids in foster care. Donations of small stocking-stuffers—examples include nail polish, Play-Doh, headphones, small toys, Legos, matchbox cars, lip gloss, hair ties, socks, markers, coloring books and hard candy—and stockings to be stuffed can be dropped off at the Embrace office at 10705 Spotsylvania Ave, Suite 101 or Katora Coffee in downtown Fredericksburg through Dec. 10.
- The 40th annual Weichert Realtors Toy Drive kicked off Nov. 20. Members of the community are invited to drop off new, unwrapped toys at the company’s sales offices through Friday, Dec. 14. The toys will be delivered throughout the holidays in conjunction with local charities that assist financially and physically disadvantaged children. The local Weichert office is located at 1955 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Suite 201
- The Fredericksburg Social Services department is collecting gift cards to give to senior citizens in our community who can use the extra help. Gift cards to pharmacies, restaurants, department stores, and grocery stores appreciated. If interested, please contact, Kelly Adriazola, Family Services Specialist, 540/372-1032 ext. 255. The department also holds Project Manager during the holiday season. The project raises money to buy portable cribs for families who can’t afford a safe sleeping place for their babies. The average cost of a portable crib is $60. To donate money or new portable cribs to the project, call Kathleen Bell at 540/372-1032, ext. 259. Due to liability issues, the department is unable to accept used portable cribs.
- SERVE, an emergency assistance agency in Stafford County, is collecting $10 gift cards to Target or Walmart for its Teen Christmas project. To donate, visit serve-helps.org.
- The local Toys for Tots campaign of the Marine Corps Reserve is accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys through Dec. 12. Local toy drop-off sites include Virginia Partners Bank in downtown Fredericksburg, Planet Fitness on Jefferson Davis Highway, and Buy Buy Baby, Five Below, Massage Envy and several other stores in Central Park. For a full list of drop-off sites, visit quantico-va.toysfortots.org.
- Barnes and Noble is conducting its annual Holiday Book Drive. Purchase a book at the store through Dec. 31 to donate to the drive, which is supporting the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Book Buddies Program this year. Books will be distributed through the Salvation Army Christmas Toyland to children in Fredericksburg and the surrounding counties.
- Bragg Hill Family Life Center seeks donations of clothes, food, toys and gifts for families who attend its annual Santa Day on Dec. 21. For information, contact Doris or Danielle Henderson at 540/371-3662 or bragghillstaff@yahoo.comCentral Virginia Housing Coalition is conducting its annual Home for the Holidays campaign, which aims to transition people from homelessness to permanent housing in time for the holidays. Make a donation to the campaign at centralvahousing.org.
- The University of Mary Washington’s Community Outreach and Resources club is collecting small items for its annual gift box drive for local Head Start students. Each gift box includes a small toy, a hat, gloves, a coloring book and crayons, and children’s toothbrush and toothpaste. Donations can be dropped off through Dec. 4 at the UMW University Center in Suite 320.
- The Rappahannock Area Community Services Board is holding its annual poinsettia sale to benefit its Adult Activities program, which serves people with a developmental disability. Order poinsettias at rappahannockareacsb.org/ and pick up at 750 Kings Highway between 9am and 3pm Orders of five or more plants are eligible for delivery.
BrightStar Care of Fredericksburg provides a full continuum of home care services comprised of companionship, personal care, dementia care, transportation, medication assistance, skilled nursing and more to improve clients’ health and quality of life.
To learn more about our local team of caregivers, skilled healthcare professionals, and home health care support for Fredericksburg families and businesses - CLICK HERE