Every year, my family chooses a couple of tags off of a local giving tree to give some Christmas presents to needy children. Unfortunately, we learned that the number of children is still very high and the adoptions have been very slow. This comes after they did not reach their holiday donation drive last year. It’s very sad, but it’s the inspiration for this week’s column. Here are some ways you can brighten someone’s holiday with anime.
Even if you don’t have anything to give away right now, next time you order from Right Stuf or Sentai Filmworks during one of their amazing sales, please consider adding one (or more!) of their cheap titles in hopes of making someone’s holiday brighter next year. And don’t worry: for those of you on a tight budget, not all require money.
Let’s help make some happy holidays!
Donate to Toys for Tots or a similar organization.
Chances are you have seen these bins somewhere near you at local shopping centers, hospitals, etc. Most of the local Toys for Tots serve up to at least age 12, but local branches and other organizations may give presents to teenagers as well. In that case, you have more wiggle room as to what you can donate in regards to anime, manga, and games. Still, even if you are in an area that only serves younger children, you can still keep an eye on some all-ages entertainment like the super-popular Pokémon. You can also choose other popular settings and themes that non-anime fans can appreciate like pirates (One Piece) and fantasy (Sailor Moon). Just drop an item in the bin and take comfort that there’s a child who will have a brighter holiday because of you.
Pick a name off the giving tree.
Some places call it an Angel Tree, others a Giving Tree, and other organizations may have a whole Adopt-a-Family. Even in my small area, I’ve seen tags with anime and/or manga on them. But even if you don’t, you might want to think outside of the box. For instance, for someone who requests superhero items, how about something from One-Punch Man or My Hero Academia? A video game fan may like the manga adaptations of The Legend of Zelda or spin-offs like Final Fantasy: Lost Stranger. Or look for requests for books or movies so you can give some manga or anime titles.
Write letters.
Help make this PA teen’s holiday a little brighter. 💌🎄 Here’s how to send Maddox a Christmas card ⤵️ https://t.co/h9E2NDDz8q
— Pennsylvania (@PennsylvaniaGov) November 29, 2018
There are many organizations where you can write to a stranger — perhaps a soldier, maybe a senior citizen, or even a young child in the hospital. It might be a little too late to send out some holiday wishes, but you can always send a generic card. For you artists out there, maybe draw a fanart of your favorite character. If you’re hoping for a pen pal, maybe talk a bit about what you’ve been watching or reading lately.
Offer up items for events.
There are a lot of fundraisers this time of year: silent auctions, raffles, tree-trimming contests, and more. While some of the toy giveaways from major organizations request new items, these other fundraisers will often accept gently used or handmade merchandise. Either way, you can find ways to still work in your love of anime. Offer up a custom plushie at Awesome Games Done Quick. Bake some cookies for a cookie walk in the shape of Dragon Ball‘s Dragon Balls. Heck, you could even host a holiday giveaway at your own blog or a gift exchange online or IRL.
Donate to charity.
Of course you could always donate to charity. Drop some loose change in jars in your local area. Or sell something and donate a portion of the proceeds. If you’re selling on eBay, you can actually set up your listing to automatically donate a portion (and you’ll receive a small credit back on your final value fees). You get rid of some of your old animanga merchandise, and some money goes to help families in need. There are some organizations that include and/or are dedicated to Japanese media like Anime for Humanity or the Anime Art Museum.
Volunteer.
Got a cool cosplay costume? Go cheer up people in a recovery facility or hospital. Wear it while taking on a shift to raise money. Be a big brother/sister or temporary grandchild and watch one of your favorite series together. For security reasons, please either call the facility to find out how and when you can come or join a group like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Decorate.
Some of you may have workplaces where you can decorate your office. Take some of your old pins and make some garland. Turn your manga into a book Christmas tree. Turn an old anime T-shirt into an ugly holiday sweater. You have the stuff already. Just do something that makes people smile and (hopefully) get someone to say, “Hey, I know that series!”