Strapped for cash this holiday season? It’s okay! In honor of Giving Tuesday, we’re exploring ways to give back to your community that don’t require a Venmo transfer.
Holidazed & Confused
Being festive is expensive. There are presents to buy, parties to plan and decorations to hang. Before you know it, your wallet has nothing in it besides that novelty penny you got at Knott’s Berry Farm. It’s nearly impossible for some of us to find any spare dollars for things like a charitable donation to our favorite nonprofit. But I have good news! Organizations like these are in need of so much more than the Benjamins. Here are a few ways to give back that you might want to consider on your next day off:
Clocking In
Giving your time is perhaps the most valuable thing an organization can receive. Volunteering at a place like your local food pantry or animal shelter meets an immediate need and can bring much needed relief to the regular staffers. It’ll also make you feel good, too! Local charities, churches and community groups often need extra help around the holidays. City and town websites often have volunteer opportunities as well. So do libraries, senior centers and schools. The options are endless!
I Got Mad Skills
Using your professional skills can go a long way for those in need. People around the country lack basic necessities like healthcare, education, even consistent internet connection. Helping bridge that gap can help set an individual (or even a whole family) down a brighter path. Not a doctor or a teacher? Me either. But places like crisis helplines and student mentorship programs are in constant need of volunteers as well. There’s plenty of ways to use your talents!
The Shirt Off Your Back
Gently used clothing is one of the easiest ways to contribute to your community. Many shelters, thrift stores, and charitable organizations accept clothes for people in need, plus it’s great for the environment! Consider doing a closet purge and passing along any good condition clothing – especially jackets for the colder months.
P.S. Be sure to run those items through the laundry first, people need your clothes not your smell.
True Blood
If needles don’t make you queasy, a blood bank might be your next great service. Hospitals use those donations to save lives during surgeries, accidents and natural disasters. Advance to plasma and platelets and everyone will start calling you a donor superhero.
Mr. Clean
Toiletry items are in high demand at homeless shelters and other housing facilities. Leftover hygiene products like soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and feminine products are great items to drop off, especially since they go a long way in providing comfort and dignity.
Food, Glorious Food
Food pantries and soup kitchens are always happy to welcome non-perishable food items. Canned goods, pasta, rice, cereal, and snacks are all commonly accepted. Check ahead to your local shelter to see what they’re currently accepting.
Show Love with a Loveseat
Furniture and other household items are often expensive and difficult to acquire. Instead of throwing an old couch in the dumpster, why not consider donating to a company that can get it to a new home for a less fortunate family? Many programs offer pick up services for large or heavy items.
Babes in Toyland
Hospitals, children’s shelters and family housing spaces often accept toys and games for their residents. Consider decluttering your kids’ toy room and helping bring some holiday cheer to less fortunate kids in the process.
Hi, Tech
Old laptops, smartphones, and other electronics can be refurbished and given a second life. Many charities, schools, or organizations accept used technology, especially if it can help bridge the digital divide for students or individuals in need of connectivity for job searches and education.
Navigate Me
“But wait! How do I pick a charity to donate my time/money/good vibes?!” Great question. One which has a LOT of answers, all of which can be found in a single place:
Charity Navigator is a free platform that connects you to the nonprofit organization that best fits your passions and values. Through a comprehensive rating system, Charity Navigator offers its readers a rating for over 225,000 charities, calculated by their “cost-effectiveness and overall health of its programs, including measures of stability, efficiency, and sustainability.” Through this transparent model, donors can not only see where their cash is going but also what it’s doing once it gets there.
For an exclusive interview with the Charity Navigator’s CEO Michael Thatcher, listen to the latest episode of Nonprofit on the Rocks hosted by Envision’s co-founder and managing partner Matt Kamin.