Audrey Hepburn once said that each person has two hands. One for helping themselves and one for helping others. The holiday season, with its emphasis on spending time with family, exchanging gifts and enjoying delicious meals with loved ones, is also the perfect time to focus on gratitude and giving. Getting gifts is fantastic, but spreading cheer and putting a smile on top of someone else's face is definitely the icing on top of the cake. And who knows? You may just enjoy the feeling of giving so much that it turns into a giving spirit that lives on well past the holidays.
1. Mail some holiday cheer to a soldier
The holidays can be an especially tough time for the thousands of heroes serving our country away from their families this holiday season, so a personalized card is a great way to lift their spirits! A heartening word, a positive message and a kind message of thanks may only take a few minutes for us, but for our deployed heroes it can go a long way. Be creative, and feel free to use a sticker or two!
Get involved: Adopt A US Soldier (AAUSS)
2. Volunteer at a local food bank or soup kitchen
In 2015, 42.2 million Americans lived in food insecure households, including 29.1 million adults and 13.1 million children. Throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season, homeless people and struggling families can find shelter, a warm meal and friendly faces in soup kitchens and food banks. One particular time when I was volunteering at a food bank, I saw a woman start crying from happiness when she was given a birthday cake for her young daughter due to volunteers' generosity. It was the first time her daughter could celebrate a birthday! Volunteering at a soup kitchen or a food bank is also a rewarding experience for volunteers because you not only get to meet interesting new people, but you can also have a front-view seat to the satisfaction on people's faces when they take a bite out of a warm meal .
Get involved: Feeding America
3. Empty out your toy box
In an unfortunate historic high, a staggering 2.5 million children are now homeless in America. For these 2.5 million children, there are no colorfully-wrapped presents awaiting under the shimmering tree and there is no excitement to wake up in the morning to see what exciting gifts the season will bring them. But there can be! Everyone from the youngest preschooler to the oldest college graduate can pick out a few toys to donate some toys or gadgets to kids in need.
Get involved: Toys For Tots
4. ...And clean out your closet
With over half a million (564,708) people living in a state of homelessness in the United States, winter clothes and warm clothing are an absolute necessity in the frigid winter chill (the kind that is definitely better appreciated in a warm coat). Participate in a clothing drive or donate to an organization to spread some (literal) warmth this winter!
Get involved: The Salvation Army
5. Bake cookies or casseroles for your local fire and police departments
Being in the police or safety force is a job that never sleeps, and the holiday season is no exception! A great way to spread some cheer and thank them for their hard work in keeping our communities safe is to call and find out how many firefighters or officers are there at a given time, then drop by some delicious baked goods to thank these brave men and women for their service. Who doesn't love a sincere thank you with a side of chocolate chip cookies?
6. Help your local animal shelter
Human beings are great, but don't forget about our furry, four-legged friends! If you're an animal lover, volunteering at an animal shelter is a helpful and adorable way to help out during the holidays! Often, the dogs and cats need to be walked, played with and socialized, which can be hours fun for an entire family. If you're feeling extra kind, bring collars, dogs beds or some homemade treats with you when you volunteer!
Get involved: The Shelter Pet Project
7. Visit a nursing home
Senior citizens in nursing homes aren't always lucky enough to have friends and family to spend time with during the holiday months, so the season can often be a lonely one more so than a jolly one. Call your local nursing home to see if they would be open to you stopping by, and feel free to bring some sweet treats to share! You can walk around, play games and get to know the senior citizens. Don't forget your bingo board!
8. Use Amazon Smile
A lesser-known feature of Amazon, Amazon Smile allows you to select a charity which you are passionate about, and then a portion of your purchase will be donated to the charity of your choice. Not to mention, it's so easy that it can be done from the comfort of your own bed! All you need to do is type in the URL smile.amazon.com instead of amazon.com.
Get involved: Amazon Smile
9. Adopt a family
By now, you are probably well aware of the state of poverty in the United States. Reminder? It's not a good state. However, one simple way to combat this problem directly and make an incredible difference this holiday season is to "adopt" a family! Many local organizations can help pair you up with a family in need to lend a helping hand to and shop for during the holiday months. Use some of your designated holiday money to pick up some food or presents for your adopted family once in a while, and you may even have a new family friend when the season comes to an end!
Get involved: Bringing Hope Home
10. Engage in reckless acts of generosity and kindness
Of course, you don't need a big gesture to spread some cheer this holiday season. Every little thing counts, and every little effort can be the cause for a smile on someone's face. Bake cookies for your neighbors or hand out little gifts to people you meet. Call an old friend up on the phone or leave a generous tip at a restaurant. If you're feeling fun and want some fast food, pay for the person behind you's food while you're at it! They may not be able to say thank you, but you just know it'll make their day. Even the simplest of "happy holidays!" can go a long way.
