Every time around November and December people start getting more charitable. Donations go up, volunteer numbers sky rocket, and food pantries get stocked.
This year with layoffs, furloughs, and illness running rampant giving back is more and more important. Unfortunately it’s more difficult to donate and volunteer because of those same things. Everyone is watching their wallets right now but I’m sure you still want to give back and help.
Here are some free (ish) ways to give back this holiday season
Donate your clothes to organizations that give them to others. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Vietnam Veterans of America. If your workplace has said that this work from home situation is going to continue indefinitely think about donating some of your office clothes to Dress for Success. Maybe you’ve purchased a new coat this fall so you can think about going through your coats and giving to One Warm Coat. Any clothes the above places won’t take give to Planet Aid.
Donate (unused) bath products to women’s shelters. Did you know many women show up to domestic violence shelters with quite literally the clothes on their backs? For example, they don’t have shampoo, they don’t have lotion, and they don’t have chapstick. But you might have some bath products that you were gifted that isn’t your scent, your color, or you were thinking about regifting. Sometimes it’s the little things that help them feel more at home in a shelter.
Speaking of women’s shelters, sometimes they get out of these dangerous situations with children. These kids who live in shelters need some fun. Donate any kids books, stuffed animals, or gently used board games to keep their spirits up!
Check in on someone who is living alone in your neighborhood. With lockdowns, social distancing, and quarantines still going, those who live alone are more susceptible to feeling lonely or down. A quick phone call or porch chat can help lift their outlook.
Grab your kids or those in your exposure circle and pick up trash in a local park. You get outside and also help the community and your neighborhood. Maybe you can recycle some of the things you pick up to make your outing even more environmentally friendly.
Reach out to a family going through financial difficulties and see if you can make them a big dinner (add in the Tupperware so they can keep any leftovers). Or just make it and drop it off anonymously. You can see if anyone in your church or social circle knows of a family in need. Another good place to check is with your kid’s teachers, they usually know of a family that is barely making ends meet that you could help.
As it gets closer to the holidays maybe you can dress up as Santa (or the Holiday Armadillo) and walk through your neighborhood waiving to kids. Chances are they aren’t going to get to sit on Santa’s lap or light the candles with lots of family this year. But you know a candid snap of them yelling from their window at telling Santa what they want for Christmas is going to be gold.
Can you think of other free ways to give back this holiday season? Who is going to send me pictures of neighborhood walking Santa?
