Volunteer opportunities for kids during the holiday season

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Donna
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Holiday Donations

In addition to volunteering in the community, your child can donate gifts to children less fortunate.

Anne Arundel Medical Center

It’s a sad fact of life, but some children have to spend the holidays in the hospital. Your child can make a patient’s hospital stay a little brighter by donating a toy or other approved item to the Pediatrics Department. Offer your advice, but let your child choose the item he or she wants to donate—and let them pay for it, if possible. This will make the gift more personal and meaningful.

“We’re so encouraged by the outpouring of support from the community to help us make our young patients as comfortable as possible,” says Meghan Siegel, child life specialist, Pediatrics Department, Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). “We developed a ‘wish list’ of sorts to help guide people in the event they wish to make a donation. When children arrive at the hospital, they may be scared or disoriented. We try to have items on hand that are not only familiar to them, but can serve as an educational tool to help them understand what is happening. We also need to remember that while we may have infants and toddlers in our unit, we see patients up through age 18, so having a wide selection is key.”

AAMC is always seeking volunteers of all ages.

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program

Volunteers are needed to assist with this year’s Toys for Tots campaign. The local Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is a toy drive for underprivileged children in Anne Arundel County. The mission of the program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during the holiday season and distribute them to children in the community. Drop-off locations in Anne Arundel County include Toys R Us, Homestead Gardens, Park Place, and more.

“Volunteering as a family shows your kids the value of helping others and lets them see how they can make a contribution,” says Mauro. “While donating money is important, a hands-on service experience provides your kids with tangible evidence that ‘I can make a difference!'”