Giving Back at Christmastime

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The holiday season is here! It is my favorite time of the year – there’s something special about Christmas time. I love decorating, being with family, and giving gifts to people. It’s also the perfect time to donate either your time or money to those in need. If you are looking for ways to help those around you, here are some causes that I love to support.

Donate to a food drive

With the recent challenges of the pandemic, many individuals and families are struggling to make ends meet. To help bring some relief and joy to those less fortunate, pick up some items from your grocery store and donate them to your local food bank. Many organizations will have events or drives during the holiday season where you can donate common holiday foods. The food banks are also always accepting everyday foods all year round too. As a bonus, many stores have sales and coupons to help keep the budget down—winning all around!

Sponsor an angel from the Salvation Army angel tree 

This campaign is near and dear to my heart. The idea behind the Angel Tree is that every child deserves to experience the joy of Christmas morning. The Salvation Army provides new clothing and toys to children and families in need each year through generous donations. Donors can shop for a child’s Christmas wish list by picking a tag off an Angel Tree located inside your local Walmart or visiting the Salvation Army’s website. On Christmas morning, the Salvation Army will distribute the gifts to the families. It’s a great cause and one that I have participated in and volunteered for multiple times in the past.

Deliver Christmas cards to nursing homes 

This tradition is one that my family has done for years now, and I love it. Every year, we either buy a few boxes of cards (or take some for the huge box we have upstairs) and write just a little, sweet note to elderly patients. Then, we schedule a time with the nursing home to come and deliver a card to each and every person there. If this sounds like something you would enjoy, I highly recommend you do it! We’ve had to do things differently last year and this year as well due to the pandemic, but we still like to bring a little bit of Christmas cheer to the men and women in the nursing homes.

Give back to animal shelters

When the weather turns cold, shelters see an increase in animals as people are worried about animals surviving the chillier temperatures. As such, they are in more need of food and supplies. However, you can donate items at any time to help keep the animals safe, healthy, and happy. In addition to food and toys, you can donate old sheets, pillowcases, and towels. Shelters use this for bedding purposes and to help clean up messes. If you’re an animal lover, this is a great way to help out!