Five Ways to Offer Help for the Holidays

Have you been good this year? Really good? Or do you need a little insurance to make sure that Santa doesn’t drop a load of coal rather than neckties or CD’s in your stockings?

Maybe after all your success you’ve grown weary of receiving and need to give a little. Or perhaps the season doesn’t have anything to do with it, and you’ve simply noticed that you made just a little too much and the 2005 tax season is right around the corner. Whatever the case there are plenty of opportunities in the City of Falls Church to take part in charitable giving and feel the sweet sense of generosity or just the pleasant feeling of getting a tax write-off.

•Crosslink International, the Falls Church-based humanitarian organization providing assistance for over 100 countries is running its annual Holiday Supplies Drive. The drive solicits contributions of basic over the counter medical supplies including Tylenol, Ibuprofin, stethoscopes, multi-vitamins and antibiotic ointments.

Crosslink attains most of its supplies through donation from local hospitals, individuals, or at cost from pharmaceutical companies. Crosslink also accepts monetary donations for buying medical materials and paying for the shipping of the supplies to countries around the world. For information call 703-534-5465 or 703-536-8349.

•The City schools and HHS coordinate a holiday assistance program for students. Individuals are invited to send cash donations to the school social worker, Susan Sinclair to buy gift cards for identified students. Contact Susan Sinclair at 703 248-5634

•Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning coordinates a holiday assistance program with community organizations and faith based groups that include City residents. Call 703 222-0880.

•Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging provides holiday assistance for seniors. Call 703 533-5411

•Housing and Human Services Division can provide information on donations to the Senior Center and the Fun and Friendship group (adults with developmental disabilities). For more information, contact Letha Flippin with the City of Falls Church Housing and Human Services at 703-248-5005.