Volunteering in the Community is the Best Gift
Research shows that giving to others increases happiness, strengthens communities, and can even improve your physical health. This time of year, there are many different ways you can volunteer and help out, whether by yourself or with family. Here are some suggestions:
Help the Homeless
Contact a shelter for the homeless to volunteer your time during the holiday season. Help out at a soup kitchen, sort and pack non-perishable food donations at a food bank or deliver holiday hampers to local families.
Carol for Charity
Contact local charities and ask if you can carol on their behalf. They’ll usually provide you with an official collecting tin. If you don’t want to sing, local churches often host charity carol concerts.
Enter a Fun Run
Raise money for charity while burning off all the extra calories. Check online to see if there’s a Santa Fun Run in your area. The lengths of runs vary, especially for family-friendly runs which often have a very short kids’ distance.
Donate!
Donate a gift or food to a shelter. Donate money to help refugees. Buy charity Christmas cards instead of commercial ones. Help out at a local school or church holiday event. Gift a Molly Maid cleaning certificate to an elderly person on the street.
TIP: Volunteering during the holidays can be quite busy. In December, many charities become overwhelmed with volunteers. Consider helping out at other times of the year too.
