Alternative giving for 5-year-olds

Problem #1: My son has too many toys. He’s blessed with generous grandparents, aunts, uncles, and somewhat invertebrate parents who sometimes buy him stuff he doesn’t really need.

Problem #2: Washington DC has over 7,000 children in families applying for emergency shelter each year. These kids don’t have enough toys.

So when we recently invited a few friends over to help us celebrate my son’s 5th birthday, we told them “no gifts, thanks.” Instead, we asked them to bring a gift card for Target or similar. We then sent the gift cards to my friend Jamila Larsen who runs the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project.

Jamila bought toys with the gift cards. Her volunteers take the toys to DC’s largest homeless shelter each Sunday, where they ensure that — as Jamila put it — “homelessness doesn’t not have to mean the end of childhood.”

Jamila’s program makes a real difference in children’s lives in a very direct and local way. I encourage you to support them today!