The holidays have become a time where we, no doubt, indulge – we overspend, overbuy, overeat, and it can be easy to get caught up in the hoopla. But there are many people who are struggling in our communities, and it can be especially challenging around the holidays, which is why it’s so important to reach out and try to help where we can. The New Year is the perfect time to not only make a resolution as a family to get involved in local initiatives, but to help someone else start the year off on a positive note as well.
Want some inspiration? Here’s where you can pitch in. You’ll quickly see that a little bit of effort makes a big difference in the life of someone else.
Volunteer at a local food bank. Holiday food drives have been working overtime to collect non-perishable food items, and now they need to be organized, grouped, sorted, and sent out. Contact a food bank near you and see if they need help in their storage facility or driving around as a family dispensing the donations.
Serve food at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. These types of facilities rely heavily on the time and participation of volunteers, and they always have “jobs” that people can help out with, from preparing food to serving it to helping clean everything up afterward.
Start a bottle or can drive and donate the money you raise to a charity or organization that you choose together. What are you passionate about as a family? Animals? The environment? Then why not knock on some doors and ring some doorbells of neighbors and collect their bottles and cans? You can return them at a nearby grocery store and use the money you get in exchange to then donate to a cause you all hold dear. After the holidays there’s lots of recycling to be had – use it to help someone else.
Write out some cards for a local senior’s residence. Many older people are lonely and can feel isolated, and this can be especially true at the start of a New Year. So, give them something to smile about by making some cheery “Happy New Year” cards. This is a great family activity if you have smaller children because they can draw all the pictures (and who doesn’t love receiving a note from a child?). Bring your kids with you when you go to drop the cards off. You’re sure to make many peoples’ days!
Do your own part at home. With the holidays comes presents, meaning more and more stuff. The New Year is a great time to declutter and clear out some of the excess, like extra toys, clothing, blankets, pillows, etc., and donate them to someone who needs them.
– JC