The holidays are a time of celebrating faith, love, and family…things not everyone has. It’s important that we find ways to give back to those less fortunate in our communities and beyond. For some people the holidays are a time of stress, both financially and emotionally. Whether we are able to donate our time, talent, or treasure it’s important that we look for ways to spread kindness and lend a hand this season.
Below you’ll find budget friendly ideas as well as some great organizations you can donate to. The greatest gift of Christmas is giving, I challenge you to find a way to give back this holiday season no matter how big or small the gesture!
INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO GIVE BACK
Donate Your Time:
As we all know time is a valuable thing, donating it to a cause that you believe in make more of a difference than your know. Find something you’re passionate about helping (i.e. veterans, homeless, animal shelters, etc) and contact the charity directly to see how you can be of help. Spread the word and rally your family and friends to create an event bigger impact.Donate Your Gently Used Clothing:
Find local charities or fundraisers who collect clothes and goods and distribute them during the holidays. By just driving around your city you’ll find donation boxes, homeless shelters, and churches collecting items to give to those in need.Visit Senior Citizens or Hospitals:
Reach out to hospitals and senior living centers to see if there are times that you come in a spend with their patients. During the holidays senior citizens and children hospitals can be an isolated and lonely place, this is a great opportunity to spread kindness.Host a Food Drive:
Collect non-perishable food at your work, school, church, or neighborhood. It’s a good idea to call your local food bank and ask if there are certain items they’re in need in of first. Your efforts can make sure that people don’t go hungry over the holidays.
WONDERFUL CHARITIES TO DONATE TO:
MISSON 22: United In the War against Veteran Suicide
I have a very soft spot for veterans, these are people who have risked everything and been through unimaginable circumstances so that we as Americans can enjoy our Freedoms. “Mission 22 is a non-profit who combats the ever-rising veteran suicide rate. Every day, more than twenty veterans are lost to suicide. Mission 22 wants to bring that number to zero. It does this with three main programs; veteran treatment programs, memorials and national awareness. Mission 22 provides treatment programs to veterans for Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and other issues they might be facing. It organizes events and builds memorials to create social impact and awareness for these issues.”
Please consider donating anything you can to this charity!TOYS FOR TOTS: Annual toy collection and distribution to families in need during the holidays.
This Christmas, shop for a less fortunate family. Purchase a new toy and take it unwrapped to a Toys for Tots drop-off location between October and December. Members of the U.S. Marine Corps will distribute the toys to children in your community.OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: A project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization.
Operation Christmas Child’s mission is to provide local partners around the world with shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies as a means of reaching out to children in their own communities. They ship these simple gifts outside the United States to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease; and to children living on Native American reservations in the U.S.CHRISTMAS SPIRIT FOUNDATION: Delivering the spirit of Christmas to military families, one Christmas Tree at a time.
The mission of the Christmas Spirit Foundation is to advance the Christmas Spirit for kids, families & the environment through programs & activities. Last year, this charity helped donate and deliver 17,400 Christmas trees to 70 US military bases and 250 trees delivered to four international bases. Your donation can make sure troops overseas and their families at home, have holiday cheer this Christmas!GOFUNDME: Free fundraising for people and causes you care about.
If your not sure what charity to donate to, GoFundMe is a great platform for you to search for causes that you feel drawn to. Whether you want to help a sick child, family in need, or any of the other amazing causes listed, this is a great way to give back directly.