Best Ways To Give Back This Holiday Season

Are you looking for ways to give back to your community this holiday season? I’ve got you covered with my latest blog, “Best Ways To Give Back This Holiday Season.” I’m sharing my top favorite ways to help those less fortunate and the community during the holiday season. 

The holidays are all about showing gratitude for all the blessings you have and bringing holiday cheer to an individual or family going through tough times. There are countless ways to help your community. Here are some ways to get involved and make a difference.

Food drives

Looking for an easy way to give back to those in need during the holidays? Supporting your local food bank’s food drive is a low cost, low effort way to support food insecure individuals and families in your community. Generally food banks ask for non perishable food items like canned vegetables, beans, rice, diapers and baby wipes. You can clean out your pantry or pick up a few canned foods, pasta, or beans while you’re grocery shopping. Check with your local food bank for drop off locations and most needed food items.

Make sure to check the labels on your canned food to make sure it won’t expire in a few weeks. 

Clothing drive

Clean out your closet and donate your gently used clothing to local thrift stores or Goodwill. You get the added benefit of decluttering your home and providing clothing to individuals and families. 

Donate blood

Help save a life by donating blood at your local Red Cross. It’s simple and easy! Schedule an appointment on www.redcross.org and arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to complete check-in screening and paperwork. Make sure to eat an iron-rich meal and hydrate leading up to donating blood. 

The bonus feature of giving blood is getting snacks and drinks afterward and the satisfaction of knowing that your blood can help a person in need.

Amazon Smile

Give back to your favorite charity all year long by signing up for Amazon Smile. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charity of your choice. It might not seem like much but it can help a nonprofit in a huge way. 

Giving Tuesday

Each year millions of people take part in Giving Tuesday-a global generosity movement created in 2012  to help transform our communities and world through acts of giving. You can donate to your favorite charity or volunteer, use this day as a reminder to do something to help those around you.

Support troops overseas with military care packages 

Support the men and women overseas in the armed forces by adopting a servicemen to send holiday care packages. There are several organizations that give you the chance to adopt a member of the military or to support a military family in need. 

You can donate money to an organization or volunteer to package holiday care packages. Go to uso.org for more information on how to support our troops.

Serve dinner to the homeless during the Holiday Season

One of the most moving and rewarding ways to give back is by volunteering at a soup kitchen or shelter to provide meals for homeless men and women. Providing a warm smile and having a conversation will lift your spirit and theirs. There are charities or churches that also provide clothing, blankets, and toiletries for anyone who needs them. 

The most touching moments are interacting with the families with children and hearing the stories is emotional and makes you want to do more to help. To find a local charity providing holiday meals contact your local homeless shelter or food pantry. 

Donate school supplies

Schools are always in need of school supplies for their students. Some of the top needs are hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes, Kleenex, and art supplies.

Go to your local school website to see if the school has an Amazon wish list or contact the school office for more information. You can also ask if their are any families in need at the school that you can donate gift cards for a families holiday meal or gifts for their family.

Toys for Tots

Donate toys for children in need through Toys for Tots. If you’re shopping for toys for children in your family, pick up an extra toy for a boy and girl in need of holiday cheer. Walmart and Target usually have great deals during the holiday season. Go to www.toysfortots.org for a list of drop off locations in your area.

Deliver holiday meals for Senior citizens 

Bring a hot meal and holiday cheer to senior citizens this holiday season. Meals on Wheels is always looking for volunteers to deliver meals to seniors. If you would rather donate to fund meals for a senior you can make a one time donation or set up recurring donations to provide delicious meals for a senior citizen in need.

Shop Local

Small businesses need our support, especially with competing with big box stores and the challenges of stores being forced to close during the pandemic. So support local small businesses by doing your holiday shopping at the mom-and-pop stores near you. 

Random Acts of Kindness

One of my favorite ways to give back year round is with random acts of kindness. You can pay for other customers’ groceries, coffee, or dinner. You can give a large tip to a waiter or barista who is going above and beyond the call of duty. 

Now that I’ve shared my top ways to give back this holiday season, it’s time to put these ideas into action and get involved. So what are some of the ways that you pay it forward during the holidays? Leave a comment below with your top three ways to help your community.

If you enjoyed this blog check out my latest – 26 Amazing Ways To Celebrate Fall.