Giving Back This Holiday Season

This year more than ever, I’ve looked for ways to give to others this holiday season. I feel incredibly fortunate to have a job and a healthy family, so I wanted to help others find joy this year too.

Below are some opportunities I’ve found so far.

Donate to a Charity

Donating to a charity is always a great choice, and you can make an impact with very little time spent. There are so many wonderful charities out there to support that when friends ask on Facebook, I always try to donate even a small amount.

For your consideration, a few of the charities I’ve donated to this year include:

• Mental Health America
• Shriners Hospitals for Children
• Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego
• Challenged Athletes Foundation
• Together We Rise
• Black Girls Code
• Maryland Food Bank
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation
• Americans for Informed Democracy

Salvation Army Angel Tree

Have you ever seen the mall Christmas trees adorned with tags of kids names, ages, and a gift wishlist? You can take a Salvation Army Angel Tree tag in person or virtually to give a child a Christmas gift– yours might be the only gift they get this year.

I chose two children, a 2 and 3 year old, and was touched that some of the wishlist items were basic necessities: shoes, clothes and a blanket.

Although I couldn’t buy everything they asked for, hopefully, these gifts will bring smiles to their faces.

When I dropped off the Angel Tree gifts, the woman told me they will take extra gifts to fill in toys for kids whose Angel never donates, or who don’t get picked off the tree. So touching and sad.

So, I returned a second time with unopened toys that my kids never used to hopefully go to other kids who could put them to good use.

Snacks for Delivery Drivers

USPS, UPS, Amazon, and more — these delivery men and women are working HARD! Especially this year, we’re getting a lot of deliveries. So, we put a basket of snacks and drinks outside for them to take if desired.

I’ve done this a few years now, but this is the first year I’ve included hand sanitizer. This year’s favorites seem to be the Gatorade and hand sanitizer, but the Oreos, Doritos and popcorn went pretty quickly too.

This is such an easy and simple way to express gratitude and help out someone else.

This Saves Lives Bars

Snack bars are great for grab and go, or school lunches, or whatever. This Saves Lives bars have fun flavors and when you buy a bar, you’re also helping to feed a malnourished child.

I bought a box to put in the kids’ Christmas stockings and then one for me. So far, I’ve only tried the Dark Chocolate Coconut, but they’re delicious! This one was a win-win!

And let’s be real, if Kristen Bell says they’re good, I’m going to trust her. Always trust Princess Anna.

Give Back Box & Zappos for Good

With all the delivery boxes we have, I wanted to put them to better use than just recycling. So as boxes come in, I’m trying to ship them out with clothes, shoes and books we no longer need.

Give Back Box

While shopping on Loft.com, I noticed their Give Back Box page. It says to send them any gently used clothing and accessories in an empty box and send it to them with the free shipping label they give us.

To get a free shipping label, it sends you to Give Back Box where you can create an account to track your shipped boxes to make sure they arrive.

Zappos Soles4Souls & Spread The Word

Soles4Souls is similar to Give Back Box; pack up your gently used shoes and send them to Zappos free of charge. Include your contact information and they’ll ship you back a letter acknowledging receipt; although I haven’t always received a letter back, so that’s spotty.

Spread the Word takes your new and gently used books to help advance childhood literacy. Once again, you can ship for free. As my kids get tired of their books, I’ve been sending them here when I can’t make it to one of those donate bins near the library.

These are just a few of the ways I’ve found that despite social distancing… and a limited budget… that I can make a difference in the world. What are some of the ways you are giving back this holiday season?