Chinese pianist Lang Lang will join in a star-studded cast of celebrities for One World: Together at Home, a televised and online-streamed global concert honoring and supporting front-line healthcare workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The show is put on with support of the World Health Organization and the international advocacy organization Global Citizen.

"It is one of the most important experiences in my life. It has made me a part of music history. I feel very honored to do what I can do for fighting the virus," says the pianist. "We both know music is without borders, so I do think good music can unite the world and give people power."

The two-hour-long virtual concert will be broadcast at 8 pm US Eastern Time on April 18 on multiple TV networks and online streaming platforms, with the participation of a lineup of artists including Paul McCartney, Andrea Bocelli, Stevie Wonder, Billie Eilish and many other stars.

One World: Together At Home will be hosted by Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel of Jimmy Kimmel Live and Stephen Colbert of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Friends from Sesame Street will also be on hand to help unify and inspire people around the world to take meaningful actions that increase support for the global COVID-19 response.

The digital stream will be available on social media platforms, including Alibaba, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Tencent Music Entertainment Group.

"We are grateful to the private sectors who have listened to the public's call for action and come together to support the global response to COVID-19. This pandemic is too large for governments to tackle alone," said Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen. "We are also incredibly grateful for the continued support from the artist community to make One World: Together At Home a moment of global unity. Our hope for the special is that everyone will come away believing that we, as a shared humanity, can emerge from this moment forever grateful for the work of doctors, nurses, teachers, grocery store workers and all those who are the backbone of our communities."

A trip to the local food bank is a holiday tradition for many Canadian families. Parents drive to the store with their kids to purchase food to drop off at the local food bank, intending to teach their children the importance of giving back.

But for many families on the receiving end, this is not; meaningful as expected. Some travel long distances only to wait in hour-long lines for food that may not suit their religious, cultural or health needs. Others can’t afford the transportation.

After distributing food hampers (篮子) to families across the province for five years, Calgary-based I Can For Kids Foundation recently has shifted from giving food to providing the ability to shop for it, supplying $50 grocery store gift cards to thousands of families with the aim of targeting the root cause of food insecurity: lack of income, “We’re not saying gift cards are the answer,” says Bobbi Turko, the co-founder of the foundation. “Instead, it’s a far more dignified (有尊严的) approach to supporting households that are experiencing food insecurity than a food hamper model can be.”

Replacing food hampers with purchasing power is part of a broader rethink of how to address hunger across Canada, while the longstanding means of addressing it—food banks that depend on supply and Canadians’ ability to give—struggle to keep up.

The new model in Calgary could throw light on more comprehensive solutions. To help document the experiences of individuals that have accessed the grocery gift card program, 37 receivers participated in a study conducted by the University of Calgary.

The findings suggest that supplying low-income families with gift cards relieves financial stress, restores clients’ dignity, and improves diet quality. “It’s believed that people are poor because they’ve made bad choices and therefore we can’t trust them to make good choices,” says Turko. But the findings suggest the opposite: parents equipped with gift cards became more likely to buy nutritious food, as their children’s exposure to and interest in eating fresh fruits and vegetables grew.

The holidays are a time to give. These charities — and many more — are looking for volunteers and donations. Read on to learn more about them. Then, talk to your parents about how you can help.

National Military Family Association

Each year hundreds of Americans serve both nationally and overseas to keep our country safe. This holiday season, we can help serve them. Through donations, National Military Family Association helps to support the wellbeing of military members and their families with scholarships, camp programs for kids, and more.

www.militaryfamily.org

Network for Good

The website allows its users to donate to charities and discover volunteerism. After the natural disasters, the Network for Good has provided a system of help and charity for those affected. The site also offers tips for kids who want to give. Click the link below to find   out how you can help make someone’s holiday season shine bright.

www.thenetworkforgood.org

Make-A-Wish Foundation

Sometimes all it takes is one wish ensured to make someone smile. The mission of Make-A-Wish Foundation is to meet the wishes of children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Through support and donations, the foundation has made dreams come true for hundreds of thousands of children.

www.wish.org

World Wildlife Fund

The World Wildlife Fund is helping to protect endangered species all over the world, and you can too! The WWF offers many ways to take part in, including the Species Adoption program. Those who “adopt” an animal will receive an adoption certificate and photo of their species. Anyone can support endangered species year round by buying WWF clothes and more.

www.worldwildlife.org