“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” ― Winston Churchill
Anytime 
I meet someone who moved to Frisco from a different area, I always hear how nice and good-natured we are, and it’s true. Frisco has always been known as a giving city and there’s no better time than the Holidays to give back.
Christmas gift-giving for that person that has everything is hard, but for those who don’t, small things can help out a lot. So, here are 5 ways to get involved this holiday season and help children with presents, Colin County families eat, or pets to play.
The Salvation Army DFW Angel Tree
The Angel Tree has been a staple for my family ever since I was little, and the angels were just imaginary friends that I was helping my mom shop for. As I got older and realized what the program was, it made me cherish it even more. Here’s how the Angle Tree works… With a large Christmas tree in Collin Creek Mall, Galleria Dallas, or Northpark Center, you can select an angel off the tree and sign up to buy a present for them. Sadly the in-person deadline has passed, so to help out now go to the DFW Angel Tree website and make a $20 donation to help out with last-minute gifts for angels that haven’t been picked.
Frisco Family Services
Frisco Family Services expects to serve the families and individuals of Frisco and surrounding areas by providing a safety-net to support their independence. It helps families through donations and profits from the Frisco Resale. With three ways to help out this season, you can donate items from your household to the Resale shop, you can make direct monetary contributions, or donate goods like gift cards, clothes, furniture, household products, or toys as gifts for the families in need.
Food Banks in North Texas
One of the main joys of Christmas at my family’s gatherings is the food, so much food; desserts, sides, ham, turkey, my grandma’s secret recipes but for some families in North Texas there will be no feast, maybe no food at all, and families who rely on meals at school for the kids will feel the pinch during the month off. You can help them out by donating to the local food banks. Frisco Family Services has a food bank in Frisco that they operate through local donations, and they keep a running grocery list of what they need on their website. Another way to give back is to connect your Kroger Plus and Tom Thumb cards to the FFS Good Neighbor Grocery program which gives a part of your purchases back to Frisco Family Services. Sadly, the North Texas Food Bank is experiencing record shortages of food due to both the recent government shut-down and our frigid local weather. The NTFB is gladly accepting your time or your dollars through their website. They also have a cool feature where you can start virtual food drives, an excellent project for school kids or local businesses to get involved and raise money.
Pets Need Love Too
What little kid hasn’t asked for a pet from Santa? I always wanted a puppy for Christmas, and if you feel prepared to take on a new furry four-legged friend for the family then look no farther than the Frisco Humane Society. They have plenty of new cuddly best friends to take home. However, if you love animals, but aren’t looking to add to your brood, you can also donate dollars or your time to the cause and help them walk, bathe, and take care of the animals. For families with dogs, who want a place for them to play (especially after all energy they stored up from the ice storm), the Frisco Dog Park is finishing up their yearlong drive to fund the operations of the park.
MyTechHelpDesk.com & Kenna’s Kids
MyTechHelpDesk.com is teaming up with Kenna’s Kids providing an ongoing opportunity to donate Apple products in any condition to be refurbished and given to kids in need. 100% of time and materials are donated and MyTechHelpDesk will schedule a pick up so you don’t even have to take them anywhere. Contact MyTechHelpDesk to schedule a pickup. Whether you have a broken, seriously damaged or lightly used iPad, iPhone or iPod. Even if you just have an old one you’re not using they’ll take them. Finding an opportunity to help others doesn’t necessarily always mean a grand gesture, either. You can find small ways to surprise someone, even a total stranger, with a kindness. Pay for the meal of the person behind you at the drive-through line, or the ticket for the person behind you at the movies. Take an extra moment to chat with an elderly neighbor who’s alone for the holidays. Offer to watch a friend’s children while they finish their Christmas shopping. It doesn’t take a lot to make someone’s day. The Holidays are really a great time to think about people and about giving. You can give of your time, talents, or finances. You can do it on your own, or make it a family adventure. In Frisco, we have plenty of opportunities to give back to our community, and I’m sure you’ll find the old saying is true that it really is better to give than receive.
