The holiday season is typically associated with joy, love, and generosity. However, for many children in foster care or residing in homeless shelters, this time serves as a stark reminder of the difficulties they face. It is in these moments that acts of kindness and generosity shine the brightest.
Here is a list of local organizations that are looking for Holiday sponsors this year.
By
Birgit Sund on November 2, 2024
It's never too early to start thinking about summer camps. Especially when registration for some summer camps are already open or closing soon or when they're free.
Free camps? Yes, there is such a thing as free camps. We've done quite some research to find camps in and around Austin (up to a 2.5 hr radius) that are not a financial burden to families, especially families that already have enough to worry about.
By
Birgit Sund on March 19, 2024
Ready for a magical night of music, food, and surprises? Join Backpack Friends on Tuesday, February 13 for their Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball!
Enjoy a delicious Cajun dinner, live music, a raffle with exquisite prizes, a silent auction, and more.
With 100% of proceeds benefit children living in food insecurity in Central Texas.
By
Birgit Sund on February 6, 2024
Would you like to volunteer your time or support other families in the Austin area this season? The Women of Austin Foundation is hosting their Jingle Bell Jamboree Toy Drive & Holiday Extravaganza on December 10th from 10am-2pm at Zilker Lodge. The event is a day full of Christmas magic, joy, and gifts for 100 single moms and their children living in the Austin area. They will enjoy pictures with Santa, cookies, crafts, a toy drive, and more fun all provided by community sponsors. Read on to learn how you can help.
By
Birgit Sund on November 14, 2023
A longtime CASA tradition, the 14th annual Superhero Run will be held at Circuit of the Americas on September 17th with a Kids' Fun Run, 5k, and festival that brings out the superhero in all of us. Your support will help CASA be able to continue providing powerful advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
Take a step for good! Join CASA for the 2023 CASA Superhero Run and help them raise $220,000 to support advocacy for children in foster care!
By
Birgit Sund on September 8, 2023
The average costs for school supplies every year is $35 which creates an extra burden for already challenged families as well as for teachers, who often spend their own money buying missing supplies for their classrooms and students.
In order to ease the burden of both families and teachers, school districts that are continuously facing tighter budgets, are trying to outsource the financial obligation by requesting that parents help provide these supplies.
Here is a list of Back-to-School Programs and School-Supply Drives in and around Austin.
By
Birgit Sund on July 13, 2022
May is National Foster Care Month.
In Texas, over 10,000 children, often abused and neglected, are waiting for a foster family or an adoptive home. When neither is not found, these children are having to stay at Child Protective Services (CPS) offices on cots, siblings are being split up and placed in separate foster homes or in residential treatment centers (RTC's).
“Foster care is a challenging journey that takes a lot of a family’s resources. Not all of us are called to take on that responsibility at any point in time. But if we can provide care to the caregivers, we can become part of a meaningful network that is essential for a functioning foster care system. Here are 5 ways you can support a Foster Family.
By
Birgit Sund on May 5, 2022
Amplify Austin Day (March 2-3) is a Central Texas tradition. Since 2013, I Live Here I Give Here has been organizing this annual giving event. Amplify Austin Day has raised over $82 million for hundreds of local nonprofits across our 7-county region thanks to the power of collective giving.
Through the platform AmplifyATX.org, people can discover new local nonprofits to support. With over 700 participating nonpofits, we know it’s not always easy to decide where to give. Luckily, AmplifyATX.org makes finding organizations simple! Each nonprofit is organized by a “cause category.” You can search different causes from animal care and the environment to education and children. Once you select the causes that mean most to your family, you’ll be given a list of matching nonprofits.
By
Birgit Sund on February 1, 2022
Back in May, we hosted our first Central Texas Food Bank fundraiser and we exceeded our goal, thanks to you. Unfortunately, the need for food now is even greater, so let's do it again!
During the holidays, when family meals are so central to our lives, thousands of our neighbors are still struggling to put food on the table. And the unprecedented demand of the past several months has strained the Central Texas Food Banks resources to the limit. This holiday season, the Food Bank will put food on the table for thousands of families. You can help. Give to the Central Texas Food Bank. Because, now more than ever, we're stronger together.
By
Birgit Sund on December 1, 2020