CEDARS gives back as the holiday season begins

Tuesday, November 27, is Giving Tuesday – a day for people to donate to charities they support.

For organizations like CEDARS, they depend on donations from the community to keep their lights on and keep serving families and children in Lincoln.

This year, CEDARS is getting some extra help.

“We have two wonderful donors who have decided to match, dollar for dollar, every gift given today, up to $10,000,” said Kristine Morton, Vice President of CEDARS Home For Children Foundation.

CEDARS will be matching all donations to their efforts until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday. To make a donation, click here. 

But Giving Tuesday is just the beginning of a charitable holiday season.

CEDARS Holiday Gift Drive is in full SWING, HELPING FAMILIES PROVIDE GIFTS FOR THEIR KIDS WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ANYTHING UNDER THE TREE.

“We’re kind of working behind the scenes sometimes with those parents, so that they can provide their own children with a nice toy or two during Christmas,” said CEDARS President Jim Blue.

THOSE GIFTS COME FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIKE YOU, AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF DECIDING WHAT TO BUY.

“They can just go get an ornament, and buy a special gift that a child has already decided that that would be the wonderful thing on their Christmas list to give,” Morton said. 

gift tREES ARE SET UP AT BUSINESSES and churches ALL Across Lincoln.

You CAN BRING THE GIFT BACK TO THE TREE, OR TAKE IT DIRECTLY TO CEDARS, WHERE THEY’LL WRAP IT UP FOR YOU.

For more information on how to get involved with the Holiday Gift Drive, as well as locations of the gift trees, click here. 

CEDARS has compiled a list of gifts they know children will need this year, in the event any individual would like to drop off gifts on their own:

• Baby Dolls (All Ethnicities) and doll accessories
• Toys for Children ages 0-3
• Baby items: baby blankets, bath, bath products/sets, diaper cream
• Remote Control Cars/Trucks
• Lego Sets
• Men’s clothing size large and socks & underwear (all adult sizes)
• Nail & Make-up Sets
• Hair Products, Flat-Iron, Hair dryer
• Portable speakers/Docking Station
• Phone Chargers for iPhones and Androids
• Earbuds
• Medium size Duffle Bags
• Low Cut Men’s Black Socks 
• $25 Gift Card to Wal-Mart, Target, Any Gas Station or $20 to SuperSaver
• Bath & Body Works Sets
• Axe products for teens
• New bedding (twin and toddler sizes)
• Bath towel sets
• Gift cards for families to have fun together (bowling, movie theatres, laser tag, University of Nebraska State Museum and Planetarium, Children’s Museum, Children’s Zoo, Miniature Golf, Ice Skating, Lost in Fun, Champions Fun Center, Defy Gravity)