It’s that time of year again, when Salvation Army bells ring outside stores, toy donations bins line malls and food drives kick into gear.
‘Tis the season to give.
In the rush of the holiday season, it’s easy to want to look the other way. You have gifts to buy, cookies to bake and holiday parties to attend. It’s tough to check every item off your own list, let alone someone else’s.
We understand: The holidays can be stressful. But giving doesn’t have to be. Southern Nevada is home to dozens of nonprofits and charitable organizations that strive to help residents in need and make the community a better place to live. There’s a mission to suit every fancy and ways to give that fit every schedule.
And although the holidays certainly are a great time to give, generosity doesn’t have to begin or end there. Perhaps increasing your philanthropic endeavors could be a New Year’s resolution.
The Sunday has done much of the work for you. Browse our philanthropy guide to get inspiration for where and how to give. The beneficiaries will be fellow community members — and yourself.
We compiled a list of local charities that need volunteers, donations or goods. Find the one that best suits you.
Las Vegas stepped it up during the recession
While the recession was pummeling Las Vegas, an undercurrent of good was trickling through the city. Residents, perhaps moved by seeing neighbors or loved ones in need, began opening their wallets to help others stung by the nasty economy.
The Las Vegas metropolitan area saw the biggest increase in individual giving across the nation. In 2012, residents gave 2.77 percent of their income to charity, 15 percent more than they did during the flush years in 2006. Las Vegans’ generosity contributed to Nevada being named the state whose residents increased their giving the most — 13 percent — from 2006 to 2012.
So what prompted people to become more philanthropic?
Alex Daniels, of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, said Las Vegas companies, especially those in the casino industry, upped their corporate giving efforts, which in turn, galvanized employees to give, too. At the same time, nonprofit leaders in Southern Nevada began working together more closely to organize charitable campaigns.
The Nonprofit CEO Council of United Way, which brings together nonprofit leaders to discuss challenges, opportunities and collaboration, had its first meeting in early 2010, with representatives from at least eight agencies, said Elliot Karp, CEO and president of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas. Now, more than a dozen nonprofit leaders participate in monthly meetings.
Las Vegas’ wealthiest residents, such as Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn, also likely impacted the state’s standings. Their robust charitable donations surely played a role in the percentage increase, Daniels said.
“It remains unclear how much Las Vegas’ increase is the result of a few mega gifts,” he said. “Some of those big gifts may have skewed things.”
Analysts expect philanthropy to continue growing in Las Vegas as the city becomes more established with a larger number of residents born and raised here.
“Philanthropy in this town has not yet come into its own,” Karp said. “Look at Chicago, New York — their philanthropy communities have 100-plus years of experience. We don’t have that yet.”
Revolutionizing the toy drive
The Salvation Army next month will transform an exhibit hall at Cashman Center into a toy store, where parents can choose holiday gifts for their children.
The idea is to give parents who need financial help a greater feeling of involvement and autonomy during the holidays.
In past years, parents didn’t have much say in what gifts their children received. The Salvation Army collected toys, bagged them for registered families and handed them to parents on arrival, spokeswoman Leslee Rogers said.
This year, parents can browse the “toy store” with a volunteer personal shopper and select two appropriate gifts for each child.
“It’s a whole different feeling on the part of the parents,” Rogers said.
The Salvation Army hopes to collect 15,000 toys to distribute Dec. 12 and 13 to about 7,000 children in Southern Nevada.
Parents can register for the giveaway by calling 702-649-8240.
Want to donate toys? Drop off gifts at 1581 N. Main St., Las Vegas, or 2900 Palomino Lane, Las Vegas.
Below are suggestions for what to give:
Newborn to 18 months
Baby bath supplies, learning toys, stuffed animals, baby walkers, sit-to-stand learning walkers, diapers, teething toys, sleepers, onesies.
18 months to 3 years
Boys: Playskool Poppin’ Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper, Little Tikes Little HandiWorker Workhouse, Vtech Alphabet Activity Cube, Mega Bloks.
Girls: Lego Duplo (Disney princess themes), Fisher-Price Peppa Pig’ Peek ‘n Surprise Playhouse Playset, Vtech Alphabet Activity Cube, Fisher-Price Bubble Mower.
3 to 4 years
Boys: Paw Patrol vehicles and figurines, LeapFrog My Own LeapTop, Fisher-Price medical kit, Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set.
Girls: Disney Doc McStuffins Doctor’s Bag Playset, LeapFrog My Own LeapTop, Disney Frozen dolls, Disney Frozen Pull Apart and Talkin’ Olaf.
5 to 7 years
Boys: Simon Swipe game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figurines, Wubble Bubble Ball and pump, Hungry Hungry Hippos game.
Girls: Disney Princess Dolls, Little Live Pets Bird Cage, Super Cra-Z-Loom, Orbeez Luxury Spa.
8 to 10 years
Boys: Transformer action figures, sports equipment, Legos, Monopoly.
Girls: Spirograph Deluxe Design Set, Monster High Password Journal, Chill Factor Slushy Maker, Scrabble Jr.
11 to 12 years
Boys: Jenga, Battleship, Apples to Apples, Cranium, 3-D puzzles.
Girls: Boombox, Timex Shake and Wake Alarm Clock, Matchitecture building sets, Apples to Apples, Cranium.
13 to 14 years
Boys and girls: $20 gift cards or $20 movie cards.
Giving feels good
Doing good certainly helps others, but it doesn’t have to be a wholly selfless act. In fact, there are tangible emotional, social and financial benefits to being charitable.
A Harvard University study found that donating money to charity spurs brain activity in regions associated with pleasure.
“Even the thought of writing a check to help a nonprofit releases endorphins in your system,” said Bruce DeBoskey, a local philanthropic strategist. “Whether they are donating time or money, donors have an enormous amount to gain.”
Volunteering can help people network and make friends, allow them to develop new skills, build their self-esteem and make them feel needed. Studies have shown that people who give back live longer.
Philanthropy can foster better work environments, too.
“For businesses who give, you enhance employee recruitment, retention and engagement,” DeBoskey said. “Your employees want to work for a company that gives to the community.”