Growing up, my family, like many other families, found ways to give back every holiday season. Sometimes this looked like adopting a child and fulfilling their wish list or donating to charity. Sometimes it looked like volunteering. It’s a tradition that I knew I always wanted to bring to my own family someday, and I have. This year, perhaps more than ever, giving back to our community is extra important.
Here are just a few ideas for how to give back during the holidays.
Do a reverse Advent calendar.
Collect an item each day to donate to a food bank, women’s shelter, animal shelter, etc. You can even get neighbors or your extended family involved and make one large donation at the end! This is a fun way to give back, and one that can be fun for kids, too. Most charities have COVID-safe methods in place for donating, so be sure to call ahead to organize your drop off.
Adopt a family.
There are a number of organizations in Lansing that are doing adopt-a-family or adopt-a-child programs this year. The Lansing State Journal recently shared this article with a list of local organizations holding drives or adopt-a-family programs in 2020. Here are a few organizations who have organized similar programs:
Organize a food, book, or toy drive in your neighborhood.
This is a great way to make a big impact on a local charity. Ask neighbors to leave items on their porch and do a pick-up. Neighborhood social media pages on Facebook, NextDoor, etc. are great ways to organize something like this!
Donate to a Little Free Pantry or Library.
You can use the maps below to find one near you:
Shop Small!
I know we’ve been hearing this all over the place, but that’s because it’s just so important. It is also one of the biggest ways we can give back to our community this year. Shopping locally is always important, but this year especially, when so many small businesses are feeling enormous impact from COVID-19, it is imperative. Supporting small, local businesses keeps money in our local economies, helps small businesses grow and thrive, makes shopping a more meaningful experience, and so much more. Check out the 2020 Lansing Mom’s Guide to Holiday Shopping for ideas of local businesses near you!
