HOLIDAY TRADITIONS | GIVING BACK
Donate
YOUR TIME
ifts and financial donations are certainly welcome this time of year
by your local community organizations and charitable non-profits,
but nothing may be more valuable than your time. Volunteering is
a great Christmas tradition for families to start. Doing so helps set
strong examples for young people, teaching them lessons in
humanity, good will, compassion and selflessness.
Do you have a few extra hours per month you could give to a local nonprofit
organization? If so, start this holiday season by donating your time to the cause.
Choose a charity or nonprofit you are passionate about and reach out to see how
you can help.
Local soup kitchens may need you to round up canned goods and nonperishable
food items from your family members and community. Senior citizen centers may
request that you simply come spend some quality time with their residents. Foster
homes and child advocacy centers may be in need of the same, as well as Christmas
presents for the little ones.
The contribution of your time and energy could help make this a highly enjoyable
Christmas for those in need, as well as for those running these organizations.
Volunteers are always needed, so make the call today.
G
You are needed
Only about 25 percent of Americans volunteer for an organization, according to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can help improve that number by joining a group
and convincing others to do the same. Grassroots volunteering efforts are the
backbone of the country, especially as many human services budgets shrink from
state to state.
Your time is more vital than ever to making sure these organizations have the
appropriate resources to make a difference in the community. Think of your local
military organizations, children’s hospitals, nursing homes and large-scale holiday
event committees. They all need your creative spirit and hands-on approach to make
this Christmas a happy one for their target populations.
So seek out one of the organizations in your neck of the woods and get started
on impacting your community in a positive way. Once you start this tradition, you’ll
never go back.
Volunteering
We all know it’s better to give than to receive, and that saying
doesn’t always have to pertain to presents. Your time can be a
valuable commodity for community-based organizations this
holiday season
Children’s hospitals
Many children will be confined to hospital beds this Christmas
season as they battle through sickness, treatments and pain. This can
also be emotionally draining for children, especially those who have
experienced the joy of Christmas morning at home.
This is where you can help. Children’s hospitals are great at
creating special events for their patients around the holidays,
especially Christmas. They will likely conduct holiday dances,
meals and even trips from Santa Claus.
Contact your local hospital's customer service department to find
out their needs and how you can meet them.
Soup kitchens
Many organizations work hard every year to make sure the
homeless and underprivileged receive a nice, hot meal for
Christmas. You can help by volunteering your time to cook, serve
28 • HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS 2017 • WWW.DAILYASTORIAN.COM
food and clean up.
Groups also offer food services for the homebound, requiring
volunteers to deliver meals across town. It is easy to get on a
delivery schedule by simply contacting these organizations and
offering your time.
Nursing homes
The elderly who are no longer fit to stay in their homes because
of health concerns or rehabilitation processes is a group that can use
holiday spirit this Christmas. And many nursing homes coordinate
numerous events and trips based around the special season.
Nursing homes may also need help with donations, meal serving
or other activities, so check in about a month before Christmas to see
how you can help.