The holiday season is approaching! No matter what or how you celebrate, this time of the year is the perfect time to give back. This does not mean you have to donate all your money or time in an already busy, often stressful time of year. All it means is taking a little time out of your day to give to others who may be struggling deeply or just need a helping hand. Here are some easy, simple ways to do this!
- Donate to a local food bank or clothing drive
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If you’re in the Midwest, you know how unpredictable the weather can be. One moment it is a crisp 60 degrees, and the next day class is cancelled due to frigid temperatures and 6 inches of snow. If you have a spare jacket or any sort of warm clothes you have not been wearing lately, why not give it to someone who may need it more than you? If you do not want to spend a ton of money giving back, most grocery stores sell canned food for less than a dollar too!
- Volunteer at Feed My Starving Children
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A local favorite of mine! Feed My Starving Children is an organization where volunteers pack bags of food to be shipped to third world countries across the globe. My family and I love to volunteer here a few times a year, and fall and winter break is the perfect time to do so. At the start and end of each session, the workers focus on one child’s story of how hunger affected them before Feed My Starving Children and after. It truly is such an eye-opening experience that I recommend everyone do at least once!
- Pay for the Person Behind You
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We all love a good peppermint mocha. Some of us may have experienced the person in front of us paying for our order. We never know what someone may be going through, and paying for the person behind you is a simple way to pay it forward and brighten someone’s day.
- Send a hand-written Christmas card
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Writing is one of the most powerful skills out there. The holiday season can often be a lonely time for some people, and receiving a handwritten letter can make someone’s entire day. There are many organizations that collect cards for elderly people and those serving our country, but even a letter to a family member or neighbor is an act of kindness we can all partake in!
Hopefully you feel inspired and ready to give back!