9 Ways to Give Back During the Holidays
Every year, I say “This is the year we’re going to give back!”, than life takes control and BOOM…the holidays are over. Not this year! No way! This year we aren’t going to let time pass us by. As a family we will give back during the holidays while we spend time together, teach our children some new values and hopefully create family traditions that they will pass on to their children.
I feel like the hustle and bustle of the holiday season often makes us lose track of the things in life that are important - creating memories with the ones we love and helping others in need. Here are 9 Ways to Give Back During the Holidays:
- Treats for Toys - Baking yummy toy-shaped treats and family who could ask for more!? Here’s how you can help; create a toy-shaped Rice Krispies treat and share a picture of it on TreatsforToys.ca, Twitter, Instagram or Facebook using the #TreatsForToys hashtag and Kellogg’s Rice Krispies will donate $20 to The Salvation Army so that they can purchase a gift for a child in need.
- Volunteer at local shelters - Animal or homeless; either one has something to gain with you being there. This experience will teach your children responsibility, empathy and help you all realize everything you have to be thankful for.
- Donate “old to you” clothing - In many areas there are outlets that will accept gently used items of clothing and winter gear; schools, homeless shelters and hospitals…just to name a few.
- Donate unopened toys - It’s time to purge the top of your kid’s closets! Stop hanging onto all of the unopened, unwanted toys and re-gift them to children who may not have anything else under the tree. Most local fire halls, malls and hospitals will have a bin set up for donations.
- Start the #PayItForward train - How awesome is it pulling up to the window in a drive-thru to find out the car ahead of you has already paid for your order!? Do you put away your money? Heck no (or at least I hope not), you pay it forward and do the same for the following car. Next time don’t be the one who just goes along for “the train ride” be the reason why it started.
- Purchase a gift that counts - Initiatives like the Me to We campaign allows you to buy a unique gift for someone at the same time as making a difference in a child or family’s life. School supplies, healthcare, income opportunities and more…are all ways that you can give back during the holidays to Free the Children and other partner communities.
- Host a secret Santa charity exchange - Instead of picking names out of a hat and buying a gift for someone, have everyone write down their favourite charity along with their name and make a donation to that specific charity under their name.
- Keep non-perishable food items on hand - It’s that time of year for school concerts, holiday parties, parades plus lots and lots of shopping; you never know when you may come across a food hamper. Having a few cans of non-perishable foods (that won’t freeze) in the car can make a difference.
- Rummage Sale - When your cleaning your home and getting holiday ready, don’t throw out the gently used items you no longer want or need, grab a few friends with their junk, rent a local community centre (most of these are pretty cheap to rent), have one massive rummage sale and donate all proceeds to a charity.
REMEMBER: One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
The holidays can be STRESSFUL, you don’t know what people are going through at this time time of year try to be curteous and treat everyone with an equal respect even if they seem like Scrooges. At the same time if the holidays bring you down or make you grouchy try not to take it out on anyone.
There you have it 9 ways to give back during the holidays. Just writing this post made me feel good and I could only imagine how I’ll feel when I mark some of these off my list. Let’s keep this feel good conversation going…
Tell me how you give back during the holidays.
DISCLOSURE: This is a non-sponsored post. I just think that if we all did our part this world could be a better place.
35 Comments
Lian Wright
This is an amazing list of things we can do to really make the holidays brighter for those in our community. I have already done numbers 3 and 4, and I can’t wait to work my way through the rest of this list. Thanks for sharing it!
Amanda Komoski
You’re welcome Lian! I’m happy to hear that you’ve crossed a few of these off your list. I’ve done two so far and am hoping to get two more this weekend!
DeBalino
You just officially inspired me to stop what I’m doing right now (well, in about 5 minutes) - to do at least two of these things right now. I just love how Christmas brings on such a generous spirit among communities - and especially for those in need. Love this list, and excited to share (and start!)
Amanda Komoski
Thank you for sharing! We started last night with #treatsfortoys and had a blast! Friday
Angela V
What a great post! We do a lot of the things you suggest already and it feels great to get in the holiday spirit by also helping other!
Florence C
I always donate clothes and I donate some of the toys that I win over the year.
Paula H
These are some really great ways to give back not only during the holidays, but all year round! We sponsor a family for Christmas through our church, donate to the food bank and pay it forward in many ways. I learned a few more here today. Thank you!
Amanda Komoski
You’re welcome Paula, and you’re right minus the Secret Santa charity exchange these could work for all year.
Merry120
Great minds think alike. I wrote a similar post recently. It feels so good to give back at this time of year.
Amanda Komoski
It really does Merry! I’d love to read your post if you’d like to eave a link.
Lynda Cook
I need to go through my junk closet, I must have about 50 games and a lot of them are brand new, I think I should donate them so others can enjoy them!!
Amanda Komoski
That would be great Lynda, so many in need and this way they don’t just collect dust.
Faye
Great ideas! I love the Treats for Toys idea and will definitely be doing this with my kids. And the Charity Secret Santa is awesome as well - I have a Secret Santa event coming up with my girlfriends and am going to recommend this. Thank you for sharing!
Amanda Komoski
You’re welcome! We did our #TreatsForToys last night, it’s what inspired me to write this post and do more this year. I’d love to know how the Secret Santa event goes if you end up doing the charity…it’s something that I’ll be approaching my family about as well.
Jenna Em
We give back not only during the holidays, but throughout the entire year. For example, we donate our no longer needed clothes and toys, give perishable food to food banks (who need the food all year long), and give to some worldwide and local charities.
Amanda Komoski
That’s awesome Jenna! Giving back truly should be a year-round thing.
Gwen
I think this is my very favorite Christmas post so far this year and that says a lot! What wonderful ideas. I am sharing this all over the place! Merry Christmas!
Amanda Komoski
Thank you for the kind words Gwen and appreciate the shares! Merry Christmas to you as well.
Melissa French, The More With Less Mom
We’re doing a lot this year to give back. Thanks for posting. Hello from Monday Funday.
Laurie P
We donated unopened toys this year!
T Austin
These are all awesome ideas! I had no idea about the treats for toys! What a great program. I’m adding several of these to my holiday bucket list! Thanks for linking up with us for our #taketime blog hop!
nicolthepickle
I love the idea of a Secret Santa Charity exchange. I did a Secret Santa this year, and after I was done I felt a little silly. It was for fun, but I could have used the money and sent someone that I love something special, or done something else.
Amanda Komoski
Secret Santa’s are super fun but I agree when I take part I sometimes feel a little silly or that my money could’ve been spent on someone who could’ve used what I bought. That’s why a Secret Santa Charity exchange instead will make you both feel like you’ve made a difference.
Treen Goodwin
such great ideas i really need to get rid of a lot of things around here , like clothes coats etc , i will donate them to the salvation army 🙂
Julie
What a great list and a great reminder! It’s important to give back!
Amanda Komoski
Thank you Julie, I think so too!
Rose
Wonderful ideas. We often do the playitforward train.
Cheryl Grandy
Every year I attend a charity concert. The ticket price goes to help children in third world countries. I also try to buy some Christmas gifts that support charities.
Laurie P
we’re helping distribute toys this evening with friends!
Alana
These are wonderful ideas! Stumbled so I can refer back to this! Thanks for linking up <3
Tarynn Playle
This is such a great list! My daughter and I have been going through all of her toys and she’s been picking out toys to give to others kids. It’s been fun talking to her about giving to others rather than focusing on what we get for ourselves. Thank you for linking up with us! #TakeTime
Amanda Komoski
It’s great how they just soak it up! We gave some food and unopened toys to my sons school the night of his concert and now he wants to give more.
Elizabeth Matthiesen
I love this list, giving back is something kids pick up on quickly. One of my granddaughter’s had her hair cut to donate, a grandson gave a homeless man $6 of his very own money, it makes me proud.
Amanda Komoski
Love it when the littles feel the need to give! It shows me that I must be doing something right.
Victoria Ess
We always collect a load of clothes and essentials to donate around the holidays. Great list of suggestions on ways to more — thank you!