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Even though most people consider Christmas to be a time for family, seeing friends, and being thankful, it shouldn’t just end with giving gifts to those closest to you. Instead, you can bring some of that good cheer to give back to those who need it more than most.
But where do you start? There are plenty of places all across the country and closer to home where you and your family can make a difference. Whether it’s donations, volunteering, or a little bit of both, there’s someone out there who will greatly appreciate your time.
Schools and Nurseries
Local schools and nurseries are always on the lookout for more ways to ensure the child’s experience is the best they can give. You’re not expected to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on Lego or iPads for the classroom. But consider pooling together with friends and family to purchase and donate new school furniture and other essentials that can make a massive difference in the classroom.
These amenities are not something people often think about, but you can’t expect children to get a thorough education without the proper furniture to sit and work on. With some schools always struggling for funding, this can ease any financial worries and also ensure a better experience for the students.
Local Shelters
There are likely plenty of shelters that require volunteers wherever you live, and you can help out by serving food at homeless shelters or working with rescue animals in search of a new home.
This volunteer work often does not cost you anything (aside from gas money or bus fare to and from the shelter), and they usually demand only as much of your time as you can give. You can volunteer once a week, twice a week, or every day, whichever works best for you. Don’t worry about others volunteering more than you, because any extra helping hands are something they appreciate.
Your Community
We all want to live in a friendly community where everyone helps each other and contributes to the well-being of the residents. You can’t expect your community to improve without your help, so get out there and lend a helping hand.
Your assistance can be as small as picking up litter from the sidewalk, whether that’s your or others, to more involved activities such as working with the local council or campaigning for a better quality of life for residents. When it comes to the local community, there’s no such thing as making it perfect, and there will always be something you can improve on. You don’t need to make significant changes immediately, but gradual change will soon transform the fortunes of the area so everyone can be proud of where they live.
The Holiday Spirit
The holiday spirit doesn’t need to only be about playing games in front of the Christmas tree and stuffing your face. Instead, you can think about who out there is less fortunate than you and do your bit to help them out. You might find that it delivers that missing piece you needed to feel more fulfilled this Christmas than you ever have before.