Giving Tuesday: A Chance to Give Back During the Holiday Season

Several Massachusetts organizations are among the nonprofits trying to encourage people to pause in their shopping and find a way to help others.

Will donating to charity ever be as popular as shopping during the holiday season? A partnership of nonprofits hopes so. For many people, the holiday shopping marathon began on Thanksgiving day, with some national chains opening their doors just hours after the traditional turkey dinner. Then comes Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, which has morphed into Cyber Week. Now, there's a new campaign asking you to open your wallet—Giving Tuesday. The Giving Tuesday website says the effort, coming on the heels of days devoted to consumerism, is designed "to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. It celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations." …

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LIFE IN THE MOM LANE

Teaching Kids to Be Charitable

Donating items and time can change the lives of others.

As parents we strive to teach our children all the right lessons. I can’t even begin to count how many times over the course of my son’s toddler years I spoke the words, “Make sure you share your toys, keep your hands to yourself and, of course, be nice to your friends.” Eventually, kids get older and the lessons become bigger and more important.  One of the most difficult lessons is often teaching our children to be charitable and generous as they grow up. I’m a firm believer that kids learn from experience and, for many children, it’s simply hard to understand why others need their help. As we all know moms love to share ideas and, when I asked some friends their strategies for teaching children to be generous, their lessons were amazing…

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To Which Charity Would You Give $1,031?

If you were to win the Patch's Little Pumpkin Costume Challenge with Heidi Klum, which charity would get the $1,031 boost?

Patch is offering the chance for some lucky Halloween celebrants to win a trip to New York City to meet Heidi Klum and to receive, along with nine runners-up, $1,031 that they can donate to a charity of their choice with our Little Pumpkin Costume Challenge. There are a lot of great and worthwhile charities in town, around the state and on the national level. If your child were to win the contest, to which charity would you donate the money?    If you'd like to participate, click here for details on the contest. Remember, the deadline to get pictures of your children in their creative contests is 9 p.m. tonight. 

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Coats for Kids Charity Drive Up and Running

Anton's Cleaners is collecting coats of all sizes to be donated to people in need this winter.

It is once again the holiday season in New England. For both locals and visitors, Massachusetts inspires a vision of snow-capped hills, cozy window displays, and a longing for general merriment. Traditionally, winter is also a time of giving. People give presents to one another and give thanks for what they have. The holiday season also inspires people to give to those less fortunate. It was the Anton family's desire to give back to the community in the tradition of the season that prompted them to start the Coats for Kids charity drive in 1995. Anton's Cleaners has set up collection sites at all of its 43 locations around the area. People can donate used coats, provided they are in serviceable condition, to be distributed to those who …

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