5 great kid charities

 Image courtsey of more4kids.info

Everyone’s facing tough times, but you don’t have to break the bank to help those in need. Too-small toddler clothes can help a child living in poverty, and donating to a tax-exempt charity, like a 501(c)(3), gets you a tax deduction; just be sure to get a receipt. Whether you’re giving cash or other items, you want to make sure it’s getting to those who need it most, so I’ve compiled 5 of the best charities that help kids and families.

Boys' and Girls' Clubs: A safe (and fun) place for kids

For more than 100 years, Boys' and Girls' Clubs have given kids hope, safety, and support. Instead of fending for themselves on the street, kids build stable relationships with caring adults and other club members. Group sports, career training, arts, and health promotion are just some of the opportunities found at the clubs nationwide. They'll gratefully accept everything from school supplies, board games, and musical instruments, to sporting goods and tickets to cultural events. Contact your local club to see what's on their wish list.

Books for Africa: Starving for knowledge

Most African school children have never owned a book, a tragedy that Books for Africa is trying to change. Since 1988, they've shipped more than 20 million books to 45 countries, putting books in kids' hands and filling school library shelves with atlases and encyclopedias (and thus reducing the cost of education). Books and school supplies, such as maps and wall charts, can be mailed to their warehouse in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they're sorted and shipped to Africa in huge sea containers.

New Eyes for the Needy: Used eyeglasses mean clearer vision

Thousands of children and adults need eyeglasses but can't afford them. In developing countries, the cost can be equivalent to a year's salary. Vision problems affect one's ability to read, succeed in school, and keep a job. New Eyes for the Needy collects and distributes eyeglasses worldwide, and raises money to purchase more. Since they started in 1932, more than 7 million people have been helped.

Healthy Child, Healthy World: Making green living simpler, one family at a time

Chemicals have become a constant presence in modern life, from cleaning the house to growing food. Healthy Child, Healthy World urges parents to think twice about the logic of letting kids play in grass that's been treated by pesticides, or using paint that makes you light-headed in a baby's room. Their website provides a wealth of information about what's safe and what's not, and gives healthy alternatives to common sources of toxic chemicals. Donated funds help them spread the word, encouraging parents, health care professionals, and whole communities to take simple steps to a greener lifestyle.

Global Campaign for Education

If you want to help worldwide education efforts, but aren't sure where to start, this organization offers one-stop shopping for a handful of excellent projects. Click through the list of groups in need, and help start a reading room in a developing country or inspire American kids to be engaged and caring citizens. The Global Campaign for Education believes that education is a basic human right, so you can rest assured that their featured projects are diligently seeking education for all.

More Great Children's Charities

• Have stuff? See if your local Big Brothers, Big Sisters needs furniture or exercise equipment. Learn more here. Or see if your local children's museum has a wish list.

• Help someone call for help. Donate your old cell phone to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

• Bring your household items, such as paint, furniture, doors, and light fixtures to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They resell the stuff at a steep discount to new Habitat homeowners.

• Everyone knows that your local Goodwill accepts shoes, lamps, coats and everything in between, but did you know that profits from sales in the stores fund their job training initiatives? Even more good than you thought. Learn more.

• Find a Local Charity

• Wondering who needs toddler clothes in your area? Enter your zip code and the kind of clothing you want to donate, and Donations Central searches their database of organizations in need.

• Network for Good is a website—teamed up with two charity-ranking services—that helps you find charities and keeps your giving records all in one place, which makes your life easier at tax time and when you want to give again.