Volunteer For The Holidays
11:51 AMIt's almost Thanksgiving! Yes, that time of year you set aside to be thankful for all you've been given and born with. (Or maybe it's just Turkey day to you with a little Black Friday Shopping on the side). Either way, now is your chance to give back to someone less fortunate than you. Do you have cans of food you WILL NOT be eating? Donate it. Have 3-6 hours to spare? Volunteer. Still hoarding that sweater that you can't even fit anymore? Give it away.
Here are a couple of organizations that would love your help during the holidays:
UNICEF
Photo: UNICEF
UNICEF stands for the United Nations Children's Fund (formerly the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund). This organization is government, individually, and privately funded so that children in under developed countries can receive food, health care, educational supplies, and much more that they need. One program that they run is the Treat-or-Treat UNICEF box which helps collect money. Children can collect during Halloween, in school, or after school activities. I did this activity in high school with my school's Key Club and collected after school. We even held a haunted house inside the classrooms where each room was assigned a different category, from rooms for babies up to very scary haunted houses. Great memories --let the tears roll. Many opportunities are available for those seeking to help out now. Check out their website. Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker (YES, Sex and the City), Selena Gomez, and Audrey Hepburn have supported.
Samaritan's Purse
Photo: Samaritanspurse.org
I don't know why and how I didn't know about this group but I JUST found out about this organization the other day. I was in Chic-Fil-A and I just so happened to read the advertisement card they had placed on their table. "November 12th, bring in gift shoe boxes for children from 5-7". I literally grabbed a Nike shoe box, packed it with whatever unopened school supplies I had, stuffed it with a new t shirt I had (tag NOT popped yet), and ran to the store to pack it with hygiene products, journals, games, and whatever else they had on the list for what I could and could not pack. Samaritan's Purse is Christian based, just like Chic-Fil-A.. hello. They are a little like UNICEF in that their main goal is for children. Honestly, do the research yourself and look it up. The best way to find information is to find it on your own. Oh and I received a free coupon for a chicken sandwich from Chic-Fil-A. Ew, I don't eat chicken sandwiches so I gave it to the next person walking into the doors as I was walking out. I mean it was just a win-win for everybody that day! Check out Operation Christmas Child on twitter: @OCC_Shoeboxes
Care Packages For Our Troops
Photo: give2thetroops.org
This is a great idea because they do so much for our country and it's a great way to show our love and support for them. I have not really done the research on websites that offer to send your care packages to troops so I won't even suggest any because I want it to be legitimate. I have tons of friends in the military so I just send it to them. Even a card or sending a letter is a great way to give back in a small way compared to how much they sacrifice. Also, when sending a care package it is best to look up items that can and can't be sent.
Food Banks
Photo: Mdfoodbank.org
I love the Maryland Food Bank! For a college assignment I had to volunteer with an organization and I chose this one. Ever since I have fallen in love with them! I love their mission, their programs, and how easy it was for me to find contact information in order to volunteer. They even have a program set up online where you can donate to send a holiday box filled with traditional foods for those in need.
While some of these activities will cost you money, like sending care packages, others, like volunteering your time, will not. No excuses, so get out there and give give give! Donate those clothes you can't fit/don't want/don't need and don't forget to give thanks for what you have.
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