The month of December seems to fly by. There are presents to buy and candy to make. We’re busy at work, school, and church. There are holiday parties and family gatherings. It can be difficult to make time for everything, but the month of December is about being with those you love.
This holiday season, take some time to start a new tradition: help out someone else in need. Perhaps there’s a family down the street that you know won’t have much to eat on Christmas, or a group of kids who won’t have any presents this year.
Sit down with your family and decide how you’d like to help this year. There are so many different ways to help those who need it. It’s important to remember that it doesn’t matter how much you spend, perhaps you can only afford to donate a few cans of food or to donate old toys. That will still make a huge difference in someone’s life!
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Start a neighborhood food drive. Get in touch with your local food shelter. Let your neighbors know that you will be stopping by for canned food donations. They can donate as much as they care to.
Go through old toys and clothes. Are there toys that your children no longer play with or clothes that they’ve have grown out of? Donate them. Just make sure everything is in good condition and clothes have been washed.
Check with local churches. Even if you aren’t members, check with area churches to see if they are taking special donations. Some churches have mitten trees where people can bring in mittens and snow gear to be donated to children in the area. Others have angel trees where each angel ornament has a gift request for local children who might not otherwise receive a present at Christmas. Some churches take part in Operation Christmas Child or have bins for food donations.
Don’t forget the furry family members. When you go to pick up a bag of food for your dog or cat, let your kids pick out a can of food or a toy for a furry animal in need. At many pet stores, there are bins located inside the store where you can place your donations. Otherwise, you can hop online to find the nearest humane society.
If you have any questions about today’s blog post, don’t hesitate to contact Reka by phone at 402-881-8125, by email at reka@omaha-counseling.com, or via Twitter or Facebook.
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photo credit: amandacphoto via photopin cc
