The Season of Giving

The Holidays are a time to give! When making your lists and checking them twice, don't forget those that are less fortunate. There are many ways to give whether you donate your time or contribute financially.  Here are a few ideas. 

Donate online:  Most charities have websites that make it very easy for you to donate online. My favorites are St. Jude, The Ronald McDonald House, The American Red Cross, and Minds Matter. Check them out or find a charity that means something special to you.
http://www.stjude.org/waystohelp
http://www.rmhc.com/
http://www.redcross.org/
http://www.mindsmatter.org

Donate through a local company:  For my California reader's, Sleep Train does a toy drive for foster children. http://www.sleeptrain.com/local-foster-kids.aspx.  Local fire houses/ police stations are also great places to check out.  http://www.sffirefighterstoys.org/.  Some of your local companies may also donate through Toys for Tots. http://www.toysfortots.org/

Donate your time:  Volunteer at a local food bank or Meals on Wheels which provides food to the homes of those in need. http://www.mowaa.org/  Another way to donate your time is to visit a local nursing home or hospital. Get a group of your friends to help you pass out carnation flowers to the residents/patients. A simple smile or a friendly conversation can brighten someone's holiday.

Donate at a local church:  Most churches have their own giving programs from food drives to giving tree gift initiatives. If you don't want to attend church, you can call their business office which is usually open Monday-Friday and ask to help.

Give the gift of Giving:  Looking for a gift with more meaning?  JustGive.org allows you to give giving gift cards where you purchase the amount and the recipient chooses their charity they want to donate to.  https://www.justgive.org/gift-cards/index.jsp. This is a new twist to giving!

Whether you just want to clean out your closet to make a run to Goodwill, give some change to the Salvation Army at the mall, or buy dinner for a homeless person you pass on your way home from work...every little bit helps.

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