If your own family situation leaves you feeling grateful, and wanting to help out with those in less fortunate situation, why not make a donation or volunteer at one of these family-oriented non-profits? For the true spirit of the season, help your kids bundle up their old toys, diapers and formula to donate to the Baby Boutique or Baby Corner, or consider adopting a family in need and planning a special shopping trip with your kids to buy items from their "wish list". And if you can't decide on a gift for that person who seems to have everything, a donation to one of the following charities in his or her name is a thoughtful gesture.

• Treehouse
  2100 – 24th Avenue South, Suite 200, Seattle
  206.767.7000
  www.treehouseforkids.org
  [email protected]
  
  What It Does: More than 25% of the King County children in foster care will never return home. Treehouse, set up in 1988, exists to provide these children with the little extras that make childhood memorable for all the good reasons. Treehouse programs help provide fees for extra-curricular programs and summer camp, as well as items such as clothing and supplies. Everything, in short, a foster kid might need to “fit in” at school and not be ostracized.
  
  How can I help? Treehouse is actively seeking help in a variety of ways. Donations of goods and professional services are always welcome, as are volunteers to organize drives, and volunteer coaches and advocates. Be in touch with Treehouse and they’ll help match your skills and interests to a specific program.
• Baby Boutique
  1100 Virginia Street, #211 (Corner of Denny and Fairview)
  206.902.4270
  www.family-services.org
  
  Donation drop-off hours: Tuesdays through Fridays from 10:00-3:00 and the fourth Saturday of every month from 9:30 to noon.
  or call 206.902.4270 to set up a more convenient time.
  
  What it does: Baby Boutique offers support to families who are homeless or in transitional housing. Crucially, it’s one of only a few locations where families in need can receive free diapers and other vital supplies for very young children.
  
  How can I help? Donations of any new or gently used children’s items are always very welcome, in addition to any left-over diaper supplies. Baby Boutique can also use such items as car seats, nursing bras and maternity items which often can’t be donated elsewhere.
  
  PS there’s a Baby Boutique “Wish List” sidebar on their website which lists items of particular current need – a great place to check in and see if you can help with something specific.
• St. Joseph's Baby Corner
  900 Boylston Ave, Seattle
  206.726.1435
  seattlebabycorner.org
  
  What it does: Baby Corner, affiliated with St Joseph’s Church, offers similar support to the Baby Boutique
  
  How can I help? Donations are key to helping the families involved with Baby Corner. Any lightly used children’s clothes and toys are very welcome, as well as formula or diapers.
  
  PS: For Eastsiders wanting to get involved locally, Eastside Baby Corner, based in Issaquah also welcomes donations. They are happy also to take crib and car seats less than six years old and in good condition; however, large stuffed animals and large toys are difficult to store due to space considerations, so they ask you nicely not to bring such items.
  
  Details for Eastside Baby Corner are:
  P.O. Box 712 Issaquah, WA 98027.
  Phone: 425.865.0234.
  Donation times are Mondays, 7:00pm – 8:30pm and Thursday, 9:00am – 11:00am
• Amara
  3300 E. Union St., Seattle
  206.260.1700
  [email protected]
  www.medinachild.org
  
  What it does: Amara is a non-sectarian non-profit focusing on adoption, foster care, teen parent education, and counseling. Concentrating often on finding adoptive homes for many older children (typically considered “harder to place”), Amara is currently working towards a specific goal of finding homes for 30 children currently in the foster care system.
  
  How can I get involved? Amara is always looking for volunteers to help with tasks ranging from board members to mentoring clients to maintaining the property and special events. They also run a program to train professional women in the Seattle area to become mentors for pregnant and parenting teens in the area.
  

More Organizations We Love:

• The Seattle Milk Fund
  1120 N. Northgate Way, Seattle. 206.526.7944;
  www.seattlemilkfund.org
  
  In action in the Seattle area for almost 100 years, the Seattle Milk fund helps families and individuals to get back onto their feet in times of crisis such as abuse, job loss, injury and illness. Each family/person is assigned a care worker who provides emotional as well as practical support. Grants for childcare and education are also provided to those in need, helping them to reach a better future.
• PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support)
  4649 Sunnyside Avenue North, #324, Seattle
  206.547.8570 x 10
  www.pepsgroup.org
  
  Many a Red Tri reader has found their “friendship family” through PEPS, an organization dedicated to bringing together new parents to discuss the trials (and joys!) of the crazy newborn who’s just joined your family. Want to become part of the wider PEPS family? Donations of money or time are always gratefully received, particularly in the area of newborn group leaders, board members and special events volunteers.
• 826 Seattle
  8414 Greenwood Avenue North, Seattle.
  206.725.2625
  
  A member of the 826 “family” of non-profits, 826 Seattle is a nonprofit writing center founded to give support with students aged 6 to 18 to develop writing skills by means of writing workshops, homework help and English language classes. Get involved by calling the number above and attending a volunteer informational meeting.
• Childhaven
  316 Broadway Seattle
  206.624.6477 Main x4900
  www.childhaven.org
  
  With four centers throughout Seattle, Childhaven’s mission is to serve children ages one month through five years who have suffered abuse and neglect. Volunteer positions are available for a variety of opportunities through clean-up and administrative duties to helping to make a child’s birthday a day to remember. Donations and organization of fundraising drives are also welcomed.
• Overlake Service League
  P.O. Box 53203, Bellevue.
  425.451.117
  www.overlakeserviceleague.org
  
  An Eastside organization providing assistance to families and children in need within the Bellevue School district. They operate a thrift shop in Bellevue Square to help fund programs such as their food program for children in low income households to ensure they have food during vacations (when they would otherwise receive subsidied school meals).
• The Children’s Alliance
  2017 E Spruce Seattle
  206-324-0340
  www.childrensalliance.org
  
  The Children’s Alliance is Washington’s statewide child advocacy organization, focusing on such areas as foster care, childcare and early learning, health, hunger, juvenile justice, school nutrition, child abuse and state tax revenue. They welcome volunteers and donations.