How to Give Back this Holiday Season

Not only is the holiday season a great time for celebration, it is also a great time to give back to your community and loved ones.  There are many charitable giving opportunities out there to show you care about your fellow human beings.

During the winter months, you may find more people in need of warm clothes and food than you would any other time.  The cold temperatures can really make living unbearable when someone has nothing to eat or use for warmth.  Every little bit you can do to help will make it even a little easier for people in need.

One thing that you and everyone can do this holiday season is to look through your own closet to see what type of clothes you might not wear anymore.  Could someone else benefit more from them?  Find a local charity that accepts gently worn clothing to give to local families in need.  This time of year, coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, and other outerwear are most appreciated.

Also, look through your pantry to see what foods you could donate to a local food drive.  You might have gotten a good deal on 2-for-1 boxes of macaroni and cheese.  Think about how much of a better deal you will get when you give one of those boxes to a family who has no food at all.  The smiles and full bellies are worth their weight in gold.  When donating food, be sure to check expiration dates.  Also, think about what you and your family like to eat.  Maybe you can put together a full meal like pasta, sauce, bread mix, and a modest grocery store gift card to purchase salad ingredients.  That small gesture can help make the holiday season just a little bit brighter for a family in need.

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