The holidays can sometimes get a bad rap for being solely about receiving gifts. Ultimately, it's a cheerful time that opens people up to the act of giving, but not with the expectation of getting something in return. It's important to explore ways to give back this holiday season, because there are people out there who don't have it as good as you do.
By volunteering for an incredible cause, you will be making someone's day more than you'll ever know — and you certainly cannot put a price tag on that. Many of us may not even realize how much we take for granted every single day, and the holidays are a necessity to bring us back to reality and away from the semi-selfish jumble some people get caught up in. Giving back during the holidays is a humbling experience and keeps you grounded.
We can't cure every injustice in the world, but if everyone did a small part to make something better, those combined pieces would create a massive mural of gratitude. Seriously though, if you have time to spare, the holidays are an amazing opportunity for you to give back to your community and help out people who could really use it.
Sadly, not every child wakes up eager to confront their Christmas tree and see what Santa brought them. And as much as Christmas isn't about giving gifts, it's about giving kids hope that something out there bigger than them exists.
Donating to a toy drive will give children who come from less fortunate homes a chance to unwrap not only your gift, but an extreme amount of happiness.
Food unites us all in more ways than one. In fact, you're still probably deciding what throwback Thursday pic of your Thanksgiving plate you're going to post. Well, the fact is, many people can't even calculate when they will get their next meal. Soup kitchens feed thousands of people who are so grateful for the food and the people volunteering to serve it to them. Volunteering a helping hand will be greatly appreciated.
You certainly can't forget about the sweet pups and kitties of the world who don't have home sweet homes of their own. When the holiday season rolls around, workers at these shelters also have families they want to see, too. This means a lot of homeless animals will have fewer people tending to them around the holiday season. Housing an animal during the holidays may actually be more of a gift to you. Who knows, you might even end up adopting one.
Exercise can help you give back. Running in a holiday marathon usually allows the proceeds to go to a charity. Even the money you receive from donors usually goes toward the cause as well. Get those sneakers ready, and give back one step at a time.
Volunteering at a children's hospital is an outstanding way to keep our youth hopeful. No child deserves to spend the holidays in a hospital, but because of reasons outside our hands, they have to. Tagging along with Santa or simply dropping off Christmas cards at a children's hospital could mean the world to those kiddos.
Many senior citizens benefit from people delivering meals. Some can't drive and don't have much family nearby, so the gesture is literally feeding more than just your soul. Besides, where would we even be without the older generation? The answer: non-existent.
Adopting a family may sound like a lot to take on, but it's really not. You basically give a family the ability to celebrate the holidays with the just like you do with your own family every year. By providing meals and gifts, you give a family the chance to enjoy some aspect of the holidays they couldn't normally afford.
As much as we should try our best to volunteer whenever we can, the holidays are the jolliest time to start. Make someone's holiday extra special with the gift of your time.
