Date/Time: Sunday, December 5, 10am PT, 12 pm CT, 1 pm ET

Location: Online

Ages: All ages! We welcome you to attend as a family!

Time Commitment: Two-hour program

Learn more here.

Contact: [email protected]. Registration is available online.

Date/Time: Saturday, December 11:

Location: West Shore Park, 401 Light St, Baltimore

Ages: Families are welcome to participate

Time Commitment: Varies

The Arthritis Foundation’s original Jingle Bell Run is a fun way to get decked out and be festive, while racing to raise funds and awareness to cure America’s #1 cause of disability. The 2021 event will be live and in-person this year! Our Jingle Bell Run may have a different look due to COVID safety and health protocols, so check the event information page for the most updated details. But the original festive race for charity is back! 100% of your registration fee and fundraising goes to a great cause. Event details will be updated based on the latest CDC and local guidelines in December. Click here for our current COVID safety information page.

Contact: Dina Gordon, [email protected] or 410.450.4942. Registration is available online.

Date/Time: Check individual sites for drop-off dates. The final date for toy drop-off is December 15

Location: Check the website for the donation drop-off sites near you.

Ages: Everyone can help

Time Commitment: Varies

Toys for Tots is a well-known charity established in 1991 by the US Marine Corps Toys For Tots Foundation. Their mission is simple: to provide a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. Every child can relate to the idea that they receive so many gifts for the Holidays, and yet some children in our community may not receive a special toy for Christmas. Join in their efforts to ensure that every child in need in our community receives a new and unwrapped toy this holiday season! Learn more here.

Contact: [email protected]

Date/Time: Click here for drop-off date deadlines.

Location: Click here for drop-off locations.

Ages: Everyone can help

Time Commitment: Varies

Help provide the magic of Christmas for children. The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program has been a tradition since 1979. This year’s theme is: Wear, Need, Want, Read! Holiday gifts such as toys, warm clothing and stockings will help relieve tight family budgets this Christmas season. Your Angel tag will provide you with the Angel’s first name, age, size, and their Christmas wishes. Please purchase at least three gifts, including at least one item of clothing. All items must be new. Bring your gifts to the location where you selected your Angel (verify your angel tag in your email inbox). For security reasons, please do not wrap gifts.

Contact: [email protected]. Click here to adopt an angel.

Date/Time: Varies, depending on the project you choose

Location: Virtual opportunities

Ages: Everyone can help

Time Commitment: Varies

Your family can choose from several ways to help others this holiday season:

Support a Family for the December Holidays: Many families participating in United Way programs need additional support to make their families feel at home this season. You and your family will receive wish lists for each family member who you support. Your commitment will bring smiles to faces this holiday season. Click here to learn more and to express interest.

Make Holiday Cards: Your family can bring messages of hope to those facing homelessness with holiday cards. When you sign up, you will receive information on how to make the cards and where to send them.

Record a Holiday Story: Bring holiday hope and fun to local children by reading a holiday story that will be added to our YouTube playlist. You just need a book suitable for children about St. Nicholas, Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Los Posadas, Diwali, or the December holiday that you observe. We'll share the playlist with local schools and families! When you sign up, you’ll receive more details, including tips for recording.

Toiletry Stockings: Sometimes people find themselves in a shelter over the holidays. Give them some holiday spirit by filling a small stocking with much-needed toiletry items. Click here to learn more and to express interest.

Purchase a Mission Possible "Giveback" Box: United Way’s Mission Possible boxes include five holiday-themed projects for your child to complete, each one focused on philanthropy and the spirit of giving back. You can purchase one for your own child, a child in your life, or a child in our programming. Click here to learn more and to express interest.

Contact: Beth Littrell, [email protected]

Date/Time: Friday, December 24, various times

Location(s): There are at-home service projects and on-site opportunities throughout the community

Ages: Everyone can participate

Time Commitment: Varies

Mitzvah Day is back! Choose your way to volunteer – Join us as we assemble winter care packages and engage in meaningful acts of service at our Signature Site, provide meals at shelters, volunteer from home and much more. Together, we can make a difference in over 4,000 lives this holiday season. There are volunteer opportunities for all ages and abilities. Find a volunteer opportunity that works for you! Learn more and sign up today at jvcbaltimore.org/mitzvahday.

About JVC: Jewish Volunteer Connection (JVC), the volunteer arm of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, matches volunteers with high-quality, hands-on volunteer placements and projects, developed in partnership with other nonprofit organizations throughout Baltimore. Are you interested in other volunteer opportunities? Learn more at jvcbaltimore.org.

Contact: Contact JVC at 410.843.7490 or [email protected] for more information.

Macy's Believe Campaign 

Date/Time: Now through December 24

Location: Online or at any Macy's retail store

Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate

Time Commitment: Varies

This is the 13th year of Macy's Believe campaign benefiting Make-A-Wish. Your family can help make a child's wish come true! For every letter you send online or postcard you download and drop in a big red letterbox in store, Macy's will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million, to create magical, life-changing experiences for terminally ill children and their families. During National Believe Week (November 28-December 4), Macy's is doubling their donation, giving $2 per letter, up to an additional $1 million. This brings the total campaign goal to $2 million! Since 2003, Macy's has donated over $157 million and helped grant over 16,000 wishes. With Macy's support, Make-A-Wish is committed to ensuring that no child waits even one unnecessary day to experience how a wish can encourage the belief in the impossible.

Contact: Click here to learn more.

Date/Time: Sunday, December 26. Please drop off lunches between noon and 12:30pm

Location: 4404 Penhurst Ave, Baltimore

Ages: Everyone can help

Time Commitment: Varies

People are hungry and living on the streets of Baltimore 365 days of the year. The mission of B & Dee's Baltimore Love, Inc. is to provide life-sustaining resources to the most vulnerable residents of Baltimore City by inspiring others to give back as well. Lunch Patrol is a monthly brown bag lunch distribution to those in need throughout Baltimore City. Your family can help by donating pre-made brown bag lunches. Please pack your lunches in brown paper bags that are labeled with the type of sandwich that is included. Lunches should include a sandwich, snack, and drink. Check our Facebook Events page for more information.

Contact: Call Renae Sewell at 410.258.2673 to donate pre-made brown bag lunches

Date/Time: Toys should be donated by Friday, December 8. Please contact Kelley Harrison to schedule an in-person toy drop-off time. Toy pick-ups can also be arranged.

Location: 2108 N Charles St., Baltimore

Ages: Everyone can help

Time Commitment: Varies

The Family Tree is the leading authority in Maryland for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Each year, we reach more than 21,000 individuals with research-based programs and services that empower families and provide support to communities. Every holiday season, we provide a Holiday Shop to the parents we serve. The Shop is a happy place where parents can choose gifts for their children without the financial burden. Your family can help by donating new unwrapped toys for children ages 0 – 18. You can choose toys from our Holiday Shop wish list, or donate directly through our Amazon or Target wish lists.

Contact: Patricia Barger, [email protected]