As October ends and November begins, I'm starting to feel the holiday spirit coming on. While I really hate the cold and snow of Ohio, I'm always willing to deal with it during November and December because I LOVE the holidays. Of course, many students have already begun the countdown to Thanksgiving break. This started to make me think about all the things I'm thankful for (having a full week off for Thanksgiving is one of them). But then I remembered that not everyone has all of the things I have to be thankful for. That is why this week I bring to you a list of the best ways to give back this holiday season. You'll be doing good, and there's probably at least one that you'll find really fun!
1. Clean Out Your Closet
Pretty much everyone needs to clean out their closet, and there's no better time of year to do it than around the holidays. As many families struggle with money, shopping at thrift stores like Goodwill can be ideal for some people to afford Christmas presents. So if you can find some clothes or shoes (which you probably can) that you don't want anymore, donate them to your local thrift store.
2. Visit Your Local Animal Shelter
Remember, someone has to feed and clean up after all of the dogs and cats at animal shelters on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. That person could be you! Even though it might seem like a bother to leave your house on those days, it can be totally worth it to go help out a bunch of adorable pets. Plus, some shelters throw holiday parties for volunteers!
3. Find A Food Drive
Food is such a big part of the holiday season. But some people don't get to have a big Thanksgiving dinner or a bunch of Christmas cookies. Nearly every town has a local food drive that you can help out with, and the holidays are clearly the time to do it. You can donate some food, or see if you can volunteer to serve meals during the holiday season. Either way, you'll definitely be making someone's holiday way better!
4. Buy Some Presents
Programs differ by location, but many areas have some kind of program set up to help struggling parents give their children a better Christmas. Where I'm from (which is northeastern Ohio) many malls and other businesses usually offer some kind of gift-giving program. Trust me, this one is really fun. Who doesn't love playing Santa?
5. Help Out At A School
Many public schools have coat drives, food drives, gift drives... Basically, they do their best to help out students who need it over the holiday break. See if there are any items they really need and take them to the school. Or, if you prefer to keep it inexpensive, see if you can help out with any school functions. Teachers can always use extra help around winter break, since the little kids are usually pretty wound up!
6. Visit A Nursing Home
If you're not into working with kids, perhaps you would be more comfortable working with the elderly. Nursing homes are great places to volunteer during the holidays, since many of the residents are on their own. There are usually a variety of opportunities to help out. You can help decorate the common areas, or visit with the residents and help them out with any personal holiday projects. Plus, you'll probably hear some great stories about Christmases from back in the day! (I can't promise there will be a festive alpaca there, but one can hope.)
7. Hit Up The Salvation Army
Everyone sees the Salvation Army volunteers outside of stores, in malls, and on street corners during the holidays. You likely have dropped some change in their donation buckets. But have you ever considered giving it a shot yourself? Being a donation collector for the Salvation Army is great because it's a widely recognized, legitimate charity. Not only do you know that your efforts will be for a good cause, but you'll also get a lot of donations since people recognize the charity.
These opportunities are all great ways to give back to your community. But, of course, these aren't the only opportunities. Keep an eye out for volunteer work wherever you live, or look online for more information about local charities. Hopefully you will choose to take some of your holiday spirit this year and share it with those who really need it!
If you know of any other good volunteer opportunities, leave a comment!
