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11 Ways To Give Back This Holiday Season That Won't Cost You More Than $25 And A Smile

Spread the holiday cheer!

Megan Adair

Dec 05, 2019

College of Charleston

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11 Ways To Give Back This Holiday Season That Won't Cost You More Than $25 And A Smile

Flickr / Naval Surface Warriors

Thanksgiving is finally over which means the Christmas season is officially here! December is the time to blast Christmas music and drive around to look at all the holiday lights, but there is so much more to the holiday season than that.

Christmas has always been a huge celebration in my house, how can it not be when you come from a Catholic family? Of course, you do not have to be Catholic to celebrate the holidays, but there is more to the season than receiving gifts.

It's easy to get so swept up by the excitement of the season to forget what the true meaning is of it all.

This is the season to give back, to appreciate what you have in life, and to help out the less fortunate.

After you bake special holiday treats and trim the tree, try to find time to give back this year. Here are a few ways to do just that.

1.Donate food to a soup kitchen.

It is common for families to feast on Christmas as part of their celebration. Maybe this year think about making an extra dish and dropping it off at a soup kitchen in your area. One small deed can feed several hungry stomachs.

2. Call someone you've lost touch with.

The holidays are all about family. This season, call up that family member or friend that you haven't spoken to in awhile. Tell them how much they mean to you!

3. Bake cookies for your local policemen and firemen.

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Most people get a little break from school or work during this time but it is not uncommon for firemen and police officers to have to work on Christmas. An easy way to let them know they are appreciated is to bake something special as a thank you for their hard work.

4. Practice a random act of kindness for a stranger.

Whether it's holding the door for someone or paying for the person behind you in line, do something selfless for someone else this season.

5. Volunteer at an elderly home.

Just an hour of your time can make such a difference at an elderly home. These homes can sometimes be lonely or boring, volunteers help to prevent this!

6. Participate in a holiday 5k for charity

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My family runs a 5k every Thanksgiving and all the money from the race is donated to the local food bank. There are tons of themed holiday races for charity, they can be really fun but still contribute to a good cause.

7. Take lunch to someone who is stuck working for the holidays.

Some people are not fortunate enough to have time off for the holidays. Make it up to these people by providing them a special lunch to brighten their day.

8. Donate your flyer miles.

For those who travel frequently for work, it can be very easy to rack up frequent flyer miles. There's a program called "Wishes in Flight" where you can donate any miles you have racked up and they are used in a Make-A-Wish program. This simple act can help a dream come true.

9. Donate blankets to the homeless shelter.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to own winter coats or have the access to heat and shelter this winter. Donating blankets could help save a life from the cold.

10. Donate toys to those in need.

A great organization for this is "Toys for Tots", it's a nationwide organization that collects toys for less fortunate children.

11. Make Christmas cards for a children's hospital.

Spending Christmas in a hospital is never fun. To cheer up kids that are in the hospital during the holidays, make some homemade holiday cards with a sweet note inside and drop them off at a local children's hospital.

These are just a few ideas of how to make someone's day this holiday season! A simple act of kindness is the perfect gift to give, no matter the time of year.

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11 Ways To Give Back This Holiday Season That Won't Cost You More Than $25 And A Smile

Spread the holiday cheer!

This is the season to give back, to appreciate what you have in life, and to help out the less fortunate.

1.Donate food to a soup kitchen.

2. Call someone you've lost touch with.

3. Bake cookies for your local policemen and firemen.

4. Practice a random act of kindness for a stranger.

5. Volunteer at an elderly home.

6. Participate in a holiday 5k for charity

7. Take lunch to someone who is stuck working for the holidays.

8. Donate your flyer miles.

9. Donate blankets to the homeless shelter.

10. Donate toys to those in need.

11. Make Christmas cards for a children's hospital.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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