By Maddie Hayes //
The season of giving is upon us, and with everything going on in the world, we could all stand to spread a little joy. Here are five ways you can make a difference in your community this holiday season.
Start a food drive.
Starting a food drive in your community is a great, COVID-friendly way to bring everyone together and give back. Simply inform your neighbors of your plans, and leave a bin outside for them to drop food and other necessary items into. You can keep this going for as long as you want and stop whenever you’re satisfied with the amount of food you’ve gotten.
Volunteer.
For those of us who feel comfortable being out in public, volunteering at a local food shelter could make a huge difference. You never know where they might need help, but one thing’s for sure: They’ll always be happy to have another helping hand on deck.
Start an online fundraiser.
For people who would prefer to stay in the safety of their homes this holiday season, using social media platforms to start fundraisers are a great way to get your family and friends to help give back. Even the smallest donations can add up to make a big difference in someone’s life.
Use Amazon Smile.
This is a great feature of Amazon that not everyone knows about. Whenever making an Amazon purchase, use the URL “smile.amazon.com” to send a portion of the proceeds of your purchase to any charity of your choosing. This is such an easy way to give back, so keep this in mind when you’re online shopping!
Participate in Operation Gratitude.
The holidays can be an especially hard time for the men and women in the military who are away from their families. This organization allows you to send letters to deployed members of the military to help lift their spirits not only during the holiday season, but year-round. If you have kids who are too young to write, you can still involve them through the use of stickers or letting them make a drawing on the letter.
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