Charity

Like most parents (or most of the nation, for that matter), we are still having trouble comprehending the events that took place on Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As the nation continues to debate gun control, assault weapon bans, and funding for mental health issues, we can't take our minds off the 26 families of the victims of the Newtown shooting — let alone try to explain why it happened to our kids. We hug our kids just a few minutes longer than usual each night and wait by the school yard gate with bated breath for the closing bell to ring. With that in mind, we've rounded up some ways you can channel your grief, frustration, and time to support the families affected by the tragic shooting:

• Send Your Condolences: The US Postal Service has established a unique Post Office Box to accept sympathy cards sent to the town. Expressions of comfort can be sent to: Messages of Condolence for Newtown, PO Box 3700, Newtown, CT, 06470
• Make Snowflakes: Sandy Hook Elementary School students will be in a new facility when they return to school, and the National PTA and Connecticut PTSA want to turn it into a Winter wonderland decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. They are asking kids and adults alike to make the most creative snowflakes they can and to send them by Jan. 12, to Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514
• Sign a Card: An online national sympathy card has already received more than 1.7 million signatures. The card will be delivered to community officials in a "respectful" way.
• Organize a Student-Run Coin Drive: Connecticut PTSA "Sandy Hook Fund" hopes to provide ongoing support for the Newtown community. Monies raised through student-run coin drives should be donated by Feb. 14. Other student-run ways to raise money include spirit days, pajama days, walk-a-thons, and more.

Keep reading to learn more ways to give back to the Sandy Hook community, including scholarship funds set up in the victims' names.

We dare you: make someone's day just by sending them a pizza! This time of year is all about spreading cheer, and if you want to get in on the spirit of giving, just turn to the Internet for fun, creative ways to share the wealth.

From a pizza-giving subReddit to a shop-till-you-drop-for-a-cause online store, we've rounded up some fresh 21st century ideas to lend a helping hand for the holidays.

• Reddit's Random Acts of Pizza — This Reddit sub-community, as its name suggests, is all about random pizza giving. Redditers post an offer to give pizza or a request to receive pizza, and there are tons of reasons, ranging from touching to plain bizarre, why people are crazy about pie.

  There's this Pennsylvania dad who's left home alone with his daughter and is short on funds. And then there's this person offering a pie to the commenter with the best joke. There are no rules, just requests and offers, and it's a pretty amazing example of a bunch of humans getting together to help each other out in any way they can. The assistance subReddit works in the same way, but posters can ask for things besides pizza, like superhero capes for the students of Sandy Hook Elementary.

More amazing 21st century ways to give after the break.

So maybe we don't have superhuman strength or the gift of flight, but we can still spread goodwill this Thanksgiving. Many households won't experience the sweet smells of pumpkin pie, gravy bubbling over the stove, and roasting turkey over the holidays — unless we all pitch in and lend a helping hand to families across America. If Power Rangers can give back on Thanksgiving, well then, so can we!

It's time to get to a computer and give the gift of Thanksgiving with websites that make online donations quick and easy.

• Feeding America Virtual Food Drive — Set up your own virtual fundraiser with the help of Feeding America. You've got all the tools at your disposal to create a page, set a goal, and ask others to donate. Alternatively, you can shop the online grocery catalog to donate specific food items like chicken, milk, and potatoes. There's also a page to donate the amount of your choosing via Amazon payments.

More ways to give back this Thanksgiving after the break.

The season of giving is upon us, and although donating to a charitable cause may seem like a simple task, there are a few important steps to take before you sign a check. Whether that involves researching an organization's finance plan or choosing alternative ways to donate, make sure you're prepared before the holiday spirit takes hold.

• Select a cause. This might seem obvious, but there are so many worthy causes out there that it's hard to pick just one. Some things to consider: under-the-radar foundations that are just as deserving as big names; disaster relief that is more time sensitive; and local vs. international organizations. No matter the case, choose one that you're comfortable and connected with.
• Research, research, research. Charities spend donations in different ways, from how much goes to direct services to how much pays for overhead and salaries. Try to figure out exactly where your money will go; many organizations list a breakdown of their finances on their website. And as unfortunate as it is, not all places claiming to be charities are legitimate — make sure you search on some type of official register, such as California's, so your donations aren't misused.
• Keep the receipts. When you make a sizable dent in your wallet, it's always wise to keep a receipt for personal records. In this case, remember to save all documentation so you can write it off as a tax-deductible donation.
• Alternative avenues. Although foundations like the Red Cross are always a smart choice, don't overlook giving to projects that you believe in through sites like Spot.us and Kickstarter where you know exactly whom or what your money is supporting.
• Donate something else. Donating doesn't always have to involve giving money. Consider volunteering to clean up a local park, using an app like CharityMiles that donates money for every step you take, or bringing canned goods to a food bank.
• Turn your donation into a gift. There's nothing wrong with admitting that making a contribution makes us feel good. Spread the love by donating in a friend or family member's name and presenting that as a gift. If you choose an interest close to their hearts, it will mean even more.

While the superstorm Sandy may have passed, its effects on the hardest-hit areas of New York and New Jersey won't be going away anytime soon. In the wake of such a massive calamity, it's hard enough for us to make sense of it all as adults, let alone try to explain what happened to our kids. If you're fortunate enough to be counting your blessings this week, get the whole family on board to spread a little love by volunteering or making a donation to those who are struggling. Here, some of our suggestions for how you can help to pick up the pieces:

If You're in the New York/New Jersey Area

• Let It Be Known That You're Ready to Help: Mayor Bloomberg has asked anyone who wants to volunteer to email nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov with your name, email address, and borough.
• Give New Kids Clothes: Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) is collecting new kids and baby clothes, toys, and other products.
• Give Gently Used Baby Gear: Baby Buggy is accepting gently used (less than three years old) baby gear at its NYC headquarters: 306 W. 37th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues, 8th Floor). Call 212-736-1777 first to schedule your delivery.

Keep reading to learn more ways to give back to the victims of Hurricane Sandy — both from NYC and from afar — and see our tips for talking to your kids about the storm.

It's no secret that we love scarves. More than just a trendy accessory, the gauzy scarf has become a mommy must have — just ask Jessica Alba, who says that she's always spotted in them because "if my baby has an accident — and I'm holding the baby — I can cover that accident up! So I'm not walking around with a big puke stain or poo stain on my shirt!" So we're always on the lookout for a scarf that does the job and helps tie a tired mama's outfit together.

But what if the scarf did more than that? What if it helped take a young girl out of the sex trade? What if it helped a woman climb out of poverty? Welcome to FashionABLE, the Addis Ababa organization that gives at-risk Ethiopian women a new shot at life. Rather than simply hand the women money, FashionABLE is a sustainable business, training the women to make beautiful, handmade cotton scarves ($28-$44) out of Ethiopian cotton harvested from local fields. The scarves are then sold around the world, earning the women steady income and a new craft. Each one is named after a woman whose life has been transformed by the business and comes with a hangtag with a note from her about how her life has changed. If you've been following the ONEMoms — a group of US moms who traveled through Ethiopia to learn about ONE's efforts to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease — you saw how much these scarves can help, and now realize just how lucky we are to raise our kids out of such harsh conditions.

At St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, no family is ever required to pay for treatment, an impressive feat in and of itself. But with daily operating costs teetering in the $1.8 million range, the facility relies on the kindness of others to help keep it going. And here's how you can help. Tomorrow, Lancome celebrates Génifique Day (formerly known as Genes Day), a one-day event where the beauty brand donates $7 to St. Jude for every sale of Génifique* in-store or online. In addition, Lancome is giving out free seven-day sample trials of its popular Youth Activating Concentrate. It's a great product for an even greater cause.

*Includes only the Génifique-branded Youth Activating Concentrate, Eye Light-Pearl, and holiday gift sets.

It's no secret that the economy isn't as strong as it once was, and important cancer research, investment in education, contributions to the arts, and even aid to countries worldwide have been stalled as a result. Luckily, these days, do-gooders looking to donate can endow their dollars with the tap of a button. Apps make it easy for mobile users to contribute to organizations and spread the spirit of generosity over social media, so we've rounded up five of the best iPhone apps for tech-savvy Samaritans.

• Instead (free) — Instead of going out to eat or splurging on that latte today, how about a donation to the charity of your choice? This micro-donation app encourages people to live more within their means and give the excess cash to nonprofits in need.

Keep reading for mobile apps that contribute to the greater good.

'Tis the time for giving, and let the latest collaboration from Kiehl's be at the top of your shopping list. This year, the iconic brand has teamed up with pop surrealist Kenny Scharf to donate $200,000 to children's charities worldwide. Scharf created a new work called "Globo Mundo" for the project, which he described as "representing the whole world or globe; inspired by Kiehl's, its patrons, and their work in communities around the world."

When you purchase the limited-edition Creme de Corps lotion ($30-$75) or the Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter ($38) wrapped in the colorful design, 100 percent of net US profits will benefit RxArt, an organization that focuses on placing fine art in hospitals to inspire patients.

In the past, Kiehl's has collaborated with artistic stars like Jeff Koons and Brian Donnelly to outfit its Creme de Corps collection for charity. And this year the collection has Scharf's legendary comic imagery flair. Every vanity deserves a piece of this pop art, especially with such a worthy cause attached.