Sharing Time, Talent And Treasure Together

After the latest tech device, favorite athlete jersey, or hottest toy of the season has been purchased and wrapped, some local families are looking for gifts without price tags that are as valuable to give as they are to receive. Charitable organizations are stretched thin this holiday season as many see an increase in families needing assistance.

With more people to serve, the need for volunteers and donors also increases, and many organizations would love your family to help them help our neighbors make the holiday season just a little bit brighter.

If your family, group or team is looking for a way to serve together, to give a gift that truly comes from the heart and can ease another’s stress, you may want to consider partnering with one of these local organizations that are working hard to make the holidays merry for everyone.

Giving Back – Linda’s Legacy

One of the largest mass mobilization of volunteers in Maryland is the annual Giving Back – Linda’s Legacy (GBLL) homeless drive, with Christmas Eve deliveries of 3,000 backpacks, clothes, food, and supplies to people experiencing homelessness and shelters in Baltimore and across Maryland. More than 500 volunteers are needed to accomplish this amazing feat.

There are many ways to assist:

• Backpack Program – Gather, sort and pack supplies to fill backpacks. Assembly dates and times are flexible.
• Toiletry Drive – Donate to, set up a drive, or sort and pack travel-size hygiene items that will be collected in Severna Park just before Christmas.
• Coat and Clothing Drive – GBLL needs new or gently used warm coats and clothing for all ages, sizes and genders delivered to a collection site by late December.
• Cakes and Cookies – Imagine a holiday without sweet treats. For many Anne Arundel County residents, providing a meal on the table is challenging, so a homemade dessert with family is a gift made possible by donations. Homemade cakes and cookies are collected just before Christmas and are delivered to shelters and families on Christmas Eve.
• Cards – An unexpected holiday card from a stranger with well wishes, encouragement and prayers offers an immediate and emotional connection. Store-bought cards or a handmade card from a child can make the recipient and the giver feel amazing.
• Christmas Eve Backpack Deliveries – After volunteers have worked for weeks to collect, sort and pack, volunteers set out in caravans following delivery trucks to their assigned destinations on Christmas Eve. This is perfect for families and teens. The joy on the faces of those receiving these basic necessities is unforgettable.

“Volunteering with Linda’s Legacy has become a cherished Christmas tradition for our family. It’s our way of keeping the season focused on compassion and service, reminding ourselves, and especially our kids, that giving is at the heart of Christmas,” said Karen Clayton, a Severna Park resident and longtime GGBL volunteer.

“My husband and I have seen how powerful it is for our children to step into someone else’s shoes and understand that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference,” Clayton added. “Serving together deepens our connection as a family and reinforces the values we hope to pass on.”

Two nearby places to drop off donations for the GBLL drive are Kinder Farm Park’s Jingle Bell Hayride event on December 6 (www.kinderfarmpark.org) and Phronesis Wealth Management’s office through December 12 (www.phronesiswealthmanagement.com/events).

For a full list of hands-on volunteering opportunities with GBLL, go to www.homelessdrive.org.

Orphan Grain Train

It’s likely you’ve passed the red barn with the cross on it on East-West Boulevard near Veterans Highway without realizing it’s one of 27 national branches of the international nonprofit Orphan Grain Train (OGT). The barn houses shelving filled to the ceiling with clothing, medical equipment and supplies, and so much more to be sent via shipping containers to people in need all over the U.S. and the world. No matter what time of year it is, OGT collects the same items. And when those items come in, they need to be sorted and packed, something that families with teens can always help with.

“Right now, there is a coat drive, and coats will be distributed to those in need in inner-city Baltimore,” said OGT board member Linda Zahn. “Money is always needed, as shipping and operating costs are most expensive.”

If you or your family can help sort donations, check www.ogt.org/branches/md for hours of operation. Other ways to help are by organizing neighborhood clothing and supply drives.

St. Vincent de Paul Society

The St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. John the Evangelist Chapter in Severna Park, will feed nearly 100 families with complete Christmas dinners and provide qualified parents with $25 gift cards to purchase Christmas gifts for their children through the annual Giving Tree program. The all-volunteer organization provides year-round housing, medical and other necessary financial support to people through community donations. Families or individuals looking to support St. Vincent de Paul can organize food or toiletry drives, make financial and nonperishable food donations, or purchase Giving Tree gift cards at bit.ly/svdpgive.

SPAN (Serving People Across Neighborhoods)

Maia Grabau, director of operations at SPAN, said the number of people experiencing hardship coming to SPAN in 2025 has significantly increased, and the need for community involvement has never been greater.

This season, SPAN will support the parents of more than 450 local children by providing Christmas gifts. Of those children, identified with the assistance of Anne Arundel County Public Schools guidance counselors in elementary schools, 150 are students in the Severna Park area.

“There are many ways families can help SPAN client families,” Grabau said, noting that the people being helped could be neighbors in need.

Grabau provided the following ideas for families looking to give back to their community:

• Organize a food, toiletry or grocery gift card drive in your neighborhood
• Have children create a birthday bag filled with their favorite items and a birthday cake mix
• Sponsor a family to provide holiday food, gifts and clothing
• Sign up to provide dinner boxes
• Volunteer in person.

For a full list of opportunities to give back through SPAN, go to www.spanhelps.org or email spanhelps@yahoo.com.

Walk the Walk Foundation

Many elf hands make for light work, and at Walk The Walk Foundation (WTWF), the season is all about children. Whether your family can sort gifts, assemble bicycles, or shop for toys, the Walk The Walk “workshop” in Millersville is the place to be. The nonprofit exists “to bless children in need by empowering individuals to serve through their time, talents and treasures.” Over 20 years, its mission has inspired countless families and individuals to volunteer, and the team is in need of helping hands again this year.

Consider sponsoring a child or family with gifts, or helping with assembly and distribution. Find sponsorship and volunteering information at www.wtwf.org.

“We are really passionate about families helping families,” said Executive Director Nicole Dolan, “so we try to make our website easy to use and to offer as many opportunities as possible to families who want to help.”

Serving Brings Families Together

“Even before children learn the real meaning of Christmas, the holiday season is a perfect opportunity for parents to teach their children the tremendous value of helping those less fortunate,” said Ruth Gorski, director of children’s ministry at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. “The anticipation of Christmas and the birth of our savior is a feeling that families can have all year long when they work together to ease the burden of others. The spirit of giving isn’t just for Christmas, and it truly is that in giving we receive.”