Help a family get through the holidays

With Thanksgiving and the December holidays around the corner, this is the season to turn one’s attention toward helping others.

Here are just a few of the many ways to help families in need ensure a happy holiday for their children:

• The Mason Police District, its Community Advisory Committee, and other partners are collecting toys for the annual “Gary Clause” events.

Community members are invited to donate new, unwrapped toys, pajamas, and slippers for babies, children, and teens. Drop off your donations at the Mason Police Station, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale. Toys will be distributed on Dec. 14 at two locations – the apartments in Culmore and Fairmont Gardens in Annandale.  

The Mason Police District launched “Gary Clause” in 2016, when Det. Gary Moore appeared at a toy giveaway event in a Santa suit.

Pajamas can be dropped off through Jan. 26.

• The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is collecting new, unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots Campaign. Collection boxes will be at every fire station until Dec. 12. Find the addresses of fire stations here.

• Northern Virginia Family Services plans to deliver more than 2,000 toys to children across the region through its Season to Share: Holiday Giving program.

Toys can be dropped off 1-6 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the main level conference room at NVFS headquarters, 3110 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church.

Gifts and monetary donations can also be submitted online. Visit NVFS’s Amazon wish list here.

• Britepaths is seeking donations to help provide food, grocery gift cards, and toys to its client families, who lose access to school meals during winter break.

• The Fairfax County Department of Family Services’ Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program matches donors with families in need. Donors are asked to provide clothing, food, and new, unwrapped toys to their assigned family by Dec. 12.

Find a family to help here.

• The Fairfax County Police Department’s Victim Services Division hosts an annual gift card drive to support child victims of crime.

Donations can be dropped off or mailed by Dec. 19 to: Saly Fayez, Fairfax County Police Department – Victim Services Division, 12099 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035.

• Don’t forget the pets. The Mason District Animal Welfare Alliance is collecting pet food for needy families. There are donation boxes at the Mason Government Center at 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale; the Columbia Pike Animal Hospital at 4205 Evergreen Lane, Annandale; and Playful Pack at 6345 Columbia Pike in Barcroft Plaza.

Alliance members distributed pet food to 31 families earlier this month in conjunction with the Culmore Resource Center. They plan to distribute pet food on the first Thursday of every month, 1-2 p.m.