10 Great Ways to Give Back During the Holiday Season

With Thanksgiving over and the December holiday slate coming in strong, it might be a good time to find ways to give back during the holiday season.

If you’ve always wanted to do something special for others during this special time of year but you’re not sure what you can do, we’ve got ten ideas for you. Some of these activities can be done as a family, which shows your kids how they can help others who might need it. Let’s dig in and see what you can do to help those who need it during the holidays.

Help Serve a Meal During the Holidays

People who get their meals from homeless shelters and soup kitchens don’t only eat on holidays, but every day. Even if you can’t volunteer during the holiday itself, there are almost always days when these ministries need your help serving food and offering some fellowship to those in need. For many kids, these experiences become lasting memories they want to pass down to their own children later in life. Contact a local shelter or soup kitchen and see how you can help.

Adopt a Family for the Holiday Season

Even if you don’t celebrate the same December holidays as some of the people in need, you can adopt a child or family and give back during the holiday season. Many families have trouble finding ways to have a wonderful holiday celebration because their budgets are just too tight, and they don’t make much money. Contact your local church or social services organization and find out how you can adopt a child or family and give back to them this year. This will make a huge difference to a family in need.

Walk or Run to Raise Money

This is a time of year when there are always fun physical activities that allow you to get active and raise money at the same time. You can solicit donations and sponsorships based on the programs and get your entire family and group of friends involved, even if all they can do is offer a few dollars toward the cause. You’ll find a ton of amazing causes, with 5K and 10K races offered to raise awareness and donations.

Donate Blood and Provide a Lifesaving Service

Many hospitals need blood to help others that are fighting diseases, and with COVID-19 still looming large, your blood might be more necessary than ever. This is a great way to give back during the holiday season, and it only takes a couple of hours out of your day. If you’ve either recently recovered from COVID-19 or you’ve got a universal donor blood type, your blood is much more necessary than other types. Find a donation site and give blood to help save lives this year.

Turn Your Gifts into Gifts for Others

Do you and your family make holiday wish lists to help ensure each person receives things they actually want instead of what others might think they want? If so, you could make a list of organizations you’d like donations made to in your name. This is a great way to help your family give back and give up the gifts that you might receive during the holidays. The organizations can always use these donations, and they go to a great cause.

Make a Few Blankets, Scarves, or Hats and Donate Them

This is an idea that might need to start in January. If you like to knit, you could work on making some warm items to donate to a local church or collection to give some warm clothing that you’ve made to homeless people. If you want to do something like this during this holiday season, head to the store and buy several warm items to give to others. This is a great way to give back during the holiday season and makes it easy for you to think of others all year long.

Buy a Toy and Drop it Off

One of the most popular organizations that support kids during the holidays is Toys for Tots. You can find donation sites all around town, which makes it easy to pick up a toy and drop it off at one of these locations. This is a simple activity, and it helps ensure every child receives a toy during the holiday season.

Send an Overseas Care Package to the Troops

Even when we’re not at war, there are troops deployed all around the world who don’t get to be home with their families during the holiday season. If you want to support these selfless volunteers, contact your local military base, and ask them how you can send a care package to the troops. This is a wonderful way to give back during the holiday season, ensuring the troops receive something special. Another way to help is to volunteer with veterans in your area. Contact the local VA to find out how.

Don’t Forget About the Pets in Shelters Awaiting Adoption

There are many four-legged friends waiting for their furever homes in shelters. These shelters can often use items donated that can make the lives of these pets more comfortable. Donate some dog or cat food, used towels, blankets, or pet supplies. The shelters can absolutely use the treats, leashes, and cat litter that you give them. Another way to help is to adopt or foster a pet in one of these shelters, but this is a long-term commitment, not just a holiday activity.

Give Food to a Local Food Pantry

Even if you can’t donate your time and energy, you can donate a little money in the form of non-perishable food to your local food bank. Start by looking around your home and finding canned and boxed foods that could be used by the shelter. When you go shopping, pick up a couple of extra cans and mark them for donation. You can also contact the local food pantry and ask what they need, which can be added to your list.

How will you find ways to give back during the holiday season? This is not just a time of celebration and receiving gifts, but also giving them. Giving to organizations and people that are truly in need can mean a lot more than the gift exchange you have with your family and friends.