Whether you love or hate the holidays, it is a time for people to come together. But, not everyone is so fortunate to have the same opportunities. So, this year, take advantage of your privileges and embody another aspect of the holidays that is to be giving. Here are some ideas as to what you can do for others this year.
At our very own school we already have had our Chatfield Holiday Outreach Party, or better known as, CHOP. This amazing event has allowed so many kinds from Lumberg Elementary to receive gifts and a super fun holiday experience that they might not have gotten otherwise. We should be so proud of our chargers who made this happen for them.
Meals on Wheels is a fantastic way to do your part this season. This addresses the ongoing issue of hunger in senior citizens.
The organization comprises 5,000 programs throughout the country. Due to things like inflation, the amount of seniors living alone and struggling with food insecurity is increasingly going up and “1 in 2 seniors living alone lacks the income to pay for basic needs”. Go to the Meals on Wheels website to learn more about this incredible cause as well as sign up to be a part of it.
As we enter the colder months of the year, more and more animals are turning up in shelters. And due to many giving cats or dogs as presents, people don’t end up knowing what they’re getting themselves into and “by January, many of those “present” animals will have joined the more than 6 million who enter shelters in the U.S. every year” (Peta). If you are a person who enjoys being around animals, consider helping in an animal shelter nearby. The Denver animal shelter offers many different volunteer opportunities for everyone. Check it out here.
Another amazing organization is the Salvation Army. This is an organization that includes Social Service programs that provide food, shelter, clothing, and assistance with finance. Recently, they have helped assist with aid following Hurricane Helene. What you can do with this organization is assist at homeless shelters, ring bells at a Red Kettle, organize a food drive, and much more. On their website, you can see that various opportunities are available and can vary based on region. If you’re looking for something smaller, they have many thrift stores throughout the state and you can always donate clothing, household items, appliances, furniture, and anything else you may have laying around. Anything and everything helps!
While this next opportunity isn’t necessarily volunteering, it is a way to give back during the holidays. If you have long hair and are considering a new look for the new year, you could get a cut and donate your hair. Wigs can be used for a lot of things, try a new hair style, or for people suffering with hair loss from things like chemotherapy or alopecia. A very well known corporation for this service is Locks of Love. Because of amazing and generous donors, Locks of Love is able to give these wigs to “financially disadvantaged” children for FREE. If you are not interested in cutting your hair but still want to partake in this cause, not to worry! They have teddy bears for sale on their website in which the funds go to making these wigs. Locks of Love is not the only organization that you can do this through, there are Wigs for Kids, Children With Hair Loss, and many more. Depending on the organization, most places require between 8 and 12 inches of hair in order to donate. You can also talk to your hairstylist or barber about donating.
There are so many more things that you can do to help out the less fortunate this season and hopefully you will take these into consideration over your break and be a part of everyone having a fantastic holiday.
