Giving Tuesday 2026: how to help refugee children

Last updated October 2026

Giving Tuesday 2026 is on Tuesday, December 1. To help refugee children, give to a registered local charity, ask your employer to match your gift, and share the cause with friends. At Little Smiles, $25 gives school supplies to 2 kids and $100 gives mental health support to 2 kids.

Giving Tuesday 2026 is a chance to do something simple and lasting for a child. Whether you give $25 or $250, share a post or host a toy drive, your support on Giving Tuesday reaches refugee children in Los Angeles who are rebuilding their lives. This guide explains what the day is, what your gift does and how to make it go further.

Little Smiles Foundation is a Beverly Hills based 501(c)(3), founded in 2019, that serves refugee children of all ages across the Los Angeles area through six programs, with the help of volunteer doctors, nutritionists and counselors. Our Giving Tuesday page has everything you need on the day.

When is Giving Tuesday 2026, and what is it?

Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity, and in 2026 it falls on Tuesday, December 1.

According to its organizers, GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. It was born at the 92nd Street Y in New York City and has since grown into a worldwide movement. The official site confirms that GivingTuesday 2026 is on December 1.

There is no single way to take part. People give money, volunteer, donate goods and simply share causes they care about. For many families, it is the day that starts their year end giving.

What do $25, $50 and $100 do?

At Little Smiles, $25 gives school supplies to 2 kids, $50 gives healthy food to 3 kids for a week, and $100 gives mental health support to 2 kids. Every gift goes to refugee children in Los Angeles.

Gift	What it does	Program
$25	School supplies for 2 kids	Learning Without Borders
$50	Healthy food for 3 kids for a week	Strong Bodies
$100	Mental health support for 2 kids	Healing Hearts

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These gifts matter because many refugee children have been through a great deal. The UNHCR reports that children make up 39 percent of refugees, and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network notes that trauma related to war or persecution can affect a child’s health long after the events. School supplies, healthy food and emotional support help a child feel safe enough to learn and play again.

How does your gift reach a refugee child?

Your gift goes straight into our six programs for refugee children in the Los Angeles area. You give through PayPal in about a minute and receive an emailed receipt.

• School supplies fund backpacks, supplies and tutoring in reading, math and English through Learning Without Borders, helping children settle into a new school.
• Healthy food means healthy food at our sessions through Strong Bodies, with health support from volunteer doctors and nutritionists.
• Mental health support funds play based emotional support in small groups through Healing Hearts, where children learn to name what they feel and practice calm.
• Toys and play come through Moments of Joy and Play to Heal, with new toys chosen for each child’s age and soccer, team games and open play.

Our volunteers and professionals, from doctors and counselors to teachers and coaches, are trained in child safety and supported by our team through Community of Care.

How can you double your gift?

Ask your employer whether it matches charitable gifts. If it does, your Giving Tuesday donation can count twice. Many companies run matching gift programs for employees.

1. Ask HR or check your benefits portal for a matching gift or “giving” program.
2. Check the rules: some companies match up to a yearly limit, and most require the charity to be a registered 501(c)(3).
3. Give to Little Smiles on our donate page and keep your receipt.
4. Submit the match request through your employer’s portal or form, with the receipt.
5. Tell your coworkers. A team that gives together often inspires others to join.

Little Smiles Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3), so gifts are tax deductible and generally eligible for matching. You can confirm any charity’s status in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.

How can you give beyond money?

You can share the cause, host a toy drive or volunteer. Every one of these helps refugee children, and many people do more than one.

• Share. Post our Giving Tuesday page and tell friends why the cause matters to you. A personal message from someone you know is more persuasive than any ad.
• Host a toy drive. Giving Tuesday is a great kick off for a holiday drive. Our Toy Drive page has a free kit, and our guide on how to start a toy drive covers every step. For gift ideas, see what toys to donate by age.
• Volunteer. Give your time in play, sport, tutoring, art, events or professional support. See volunteer opportunities.
• Give a toy. Our guide to donating toys in Los Angeles explains how.

Why give to a small local charity?

A small local charity can put your gift to work close to home, for children you may meet at your own school, park or library. You can also see the results more easily.

Large organizations do vital work around the world. A local charity offers something different: a direct line to children in your own community. At Little Smiles, gifts stay in the Los Angeles area and support refugee children through all six of our programs, from emotional support in Healing Hearts to education in Learning Without Borders.

Before you give anywhere, check that the charity is registered, says clearly where gifts go and gives you a receipt. Those checks matter as much for a small charity as for a large one.

For more ideas, read our guide on how to help refugee children.

Frequently asked questions