Our parents have always told us that giving is better than receiving. But, little do they know, we have figured out that by giving to others, we are also making ourselves happy. Selfish? Absolutely not! This holiday season, make a difference in our Boston and Bentley communities by doing one of these three things (but if you really want to feel good, do all of them!). You’ll be glad you did.
Volunteer
Just a little bit of your time goes a long way! Bentley CollegiettesTM have a lot on their plates during the upcoming month with finals on the horizon, but involving yourself in something that will help make a difference just might help take the edge off studying. Get a group of your friends together and head to a local soup kitchen or shelter such as The Community Day Center of Waltham. But be careful, volunteering can be addictive !
Make a Stranger’s Day
In my experience, there’s nothing better than witnessing a “Random Act of Kindness”. When I was a Junior in High School, I worked at Hannaford, a local food market. The week before Christmas was always one of the busiest, most stressful times in the supermarket, not only for the workers, but for the customers as well. Everyone just wanted to get their items and get out. One evening, a young mother with two children was in my checkout line after a woman with few groceries. Because her children were misbehaving, she got distracted and fondled her purse which caused her food stamps to land on the ground. After seeing this happen, the woman in line said to me, “Along with my food, I’d like to buy this young lady’s Christmas dinner.” Of course, the mother turned it down, but started to cry, and thanked the woman for her kindness. Helping out a stranger in any situation, such as buying the next person in line’s coffee at Einstein’s Bagels, or picking up a bag when someone drops it, goes a long way.
Donate to Charities
Have a bunch of old clothes you need to dispose of so that your parents will buy you new ones for the holidays? Donating to charities such as Goodwillwill be a win-win situation for you. On campus, Bentley University’s Police Department is holding their 10th Annual Holiday Toy Drive. Between November 17 and December 19, you can drop off a new, unwrapped gift for children between the ages of 1 and 16 at the University Police Station (you know, where you go every time you misplace your ID). This is a quick option to help the members of the community during the holiday season.
“The Season of Giving” is about helping out the less fortunate people around us. If you do this with a group of friends, you are guaranteed to have the best feelings this holiday season. So Bentley CollegiettesTM, let’s make a difference.