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This Holiday Season, Skip Buying That Extra Gift And Help Some Newtown Families Instead

We often feel powerless, trapped all over the country, with no way to really help the victims of tragedy. However, the kind folks at Act MTV provided us with these six generous ways to help the Newtown community.Please consider making a donation. And then share this, so others can help as well.

Photo: (Getty)

The country is still feeling shock, sadness, anger, and disbelief after the school shooting that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut last Friday. We have more ways you can help the victims and families involved.


If You Want To Donate To A National Organization

The United Way of Western Connecticut got right to action. Any donations made to the organizations's Sandy Hook School Support Fund right now will go to those affected and help them with their health as well as education costs and income stability. “We will stand with the community and everyone affected directly and indirectly by this tragic event as we face the days and weeks ahead," the organization said in a release.

If You Want To With Help Their Wellness

While the actual shooting is over, an incident of this caliber can leave many people feeling mental and emotional anguish, particularly those who witnessed what happened and those who lost loved ones. Newtown Youth and Family Services, a nonprofit mental health clinic, has opened its doors for families involved, students and school faculty, and also community members. If you make a donation now, it will go specifically to help the people affected by the shooting. They recommend that families and businesses donate to United Way's fund which we mentioned above but you can also mail donations to the offices to help with family and youth services:

Caroline's Gift
15 Berkshire Road
Sandy Hook CT 06482

If You Want To Show Support On FB

Since you’re going to be on Facebook anyway, why not use the opportunity to give emotional support? Shortly after the tragedy, the R.I.P. Sandy Hook Elementary School Children page launched on FB, and you can offer your sympathy and support. This way those hurting from the shooting will know they’re far from being alone. The group already has more than 200,000 likes.

If You Want To Send A Note Over The Internet

If you want to give personalized support off Facebook, please send a message by making an Evergram. With an Evergram you have the option to send a text, audio, or video greeting and it's easy to do. After a bunch of these personalized messages have been collected, they will be given to the Newtown community.

If You Want To Help With Funeral Costs

The fact of the matter is that funerals are expensive, and if families aren’t expecting funerals in their near future, as the families of Sandy Hook weren't, they might not have the money handy. So The Newtown Memorial Fund has stepped in to help with funeral bills. In addition to that, they want to make a community-wide memorial and a college scholarship fund.

If You Appreciate Musicians Who Give Back

It's great when celebs like musicians use their fame for a good cause. After hearing about the shooting, the guys of OneRepublic knew they could use their names to help, so they set up a Connecticut School Shooting Victims Fund. They've already surpassed their goal of $50,000, but that doesn't mean you can't still give. Funeral costs, medical costs, therapy costs... this stuff adds up, and OneRepublic knows the families have enough to deal with without worrying about money, too.

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A local reporter at Hometown Life shared a unique and heartfelt story on March 16 about a mother struggling to find shoes that fit her 14-year-old son. The story resonated with parents everywhere; now, her son is getting the help he desperately needs. It's a wonderful example of people helping a family that thought they had nowhere to turn.

When Eric Kilburn Jr. was born, his mother, Rebecca’s OBGYN, told her that he had the “biggest feet I’ve ever seen in my life. Do not go out and buy baby shoes because they’re not gonna fit,’” Rebecca told Today.com. Fourteen years later, it’s almost impossible to find shoes that fit the 6’10” freshman—he needs a size 23.

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In a segment called “What Do You Know About The Female Body?” men try—and hilariously fail—to answer even the most basic questions, like “does a female have one uterus, or two?” much to the amazement of some of their female partners.

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Hope Carrasquilla, the former principal of Florida's Tallahassee Classical School, was one of those teachers who simply enjoyed teaching. As the principal, Carrasquilla was required to teach two classes. During her sixth grade lesson about Renaissance art, which is also a requirement of the school, Carrasquilla showed a picture of Michelangelo's "David" statue.

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The scammer claims that the loved one needs money wired to the fraudster immediately to bring them to safety.

The scam is effective because the victim is under pressure to get them money quickly, so they don’t have time to consider the fact that it may be a scam. All the while, they imagine the torment the loved one is going through. The urgency of the scam makes it much more likely that the victim will hand over the money.

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