By Lincoln McElwee
As most of us would agree that the holidays are not just about eating, making resolutions and getting presents, but about giving, centering ourselves in relation to others and togetherness, what better way to give back to others than by planning our travel around these holiday themes of balance and goodwill? That’s right – travel as a way of giving back. Think about it as practice for all of those New Year’s Resolutions. Only this time, the resolutions aren’t simply to help you lose a few inches or to get out more; these resolutions will not only edify your person, but the lives of those less fortunate – a real treat for everyone involved!
So in addition to planning all of those resolutions involving traveling to the gym and/or communicating more often with friends and loved ones, how about activities that will enhance the lives of those immediately and severely in need. Activities such as food drives, volunteering in hospitals, Santa mail, and spending a few hours a week handing out food in a soup kitchen are all ways to give back this season – and also when the season ends – in a wonderful way!
Canned Food Drives
Food can drives are perhaps one of the easiest ways to give back, especially for those who, due to jobs or other commitments, may not have the hours to put into lending a hand by traveling to a specific location. And with many churches, community venues and youth organizations putting on can drives for the holidays, there are plenty of outlets for individuals wanting to get involved. One variation on this theme involves the care packages that some stores offer to their customers to purchase at set prices. These are often placed by registers or put together by scouts. All the customer needs to do is donate a specific amount and the pre-made packages, sometimes even with the money collected for the packages, then go to a local charity/food bank.
Hospital/Hospice Volunteers
One of the most heartbreaking realities, especially during the holiday season, is the fact that many people do not have friends or loved ones to wish them happy holidays or to spend time with them. While the rest of the world is consumed with the spirit of giving and the drive to reconnect and reach out to friends and family, many must accept the fact that this happens to be one of the hardest seasons for those who, for whatever reason, are alone.
Hospitals, hospices and homeless shelters are some of the busiest places this time of year, and also the places largely populated with people who happen to be alone.
There are many organizations, as well as hospitals themselves, that organize activities which can bring a bit of holiday cheer to someone in need. Whether reading bedtime stories to children or the elderly, assisting with arts and crafts at a senior center, putting on staged performances, or even Christmas caroling for the sick, there are plenty of ways to get involved and with minimal travel involved as well. Though those with big hearts might not mind the distance, there is also something very rewarding in helping out unfortunate individuals and families that happen are a part of your local community.
Santa Mail/Gift Giving/Secret Santa
Though most of the official Santa Mail drives hosted by the United States Postal Service and smaller venues have already reached their deadline for this holiday season, it’s never too late to pay it forward or simply gift a person in need with something to make the day – and the holiday – brighter! It can be as simple as your child bringing homemade brownies to school for his/her classmates, making baked goods or simple crafts for local groups that give gifts to shelters and the needy for the holiday season, giving a gift secretly or simply remembering to say thank you and smile to those you interact with on a daily basis!
Christmas Caroling
One of the great things about Christmas caroling is that, though there are plenty of groups and organizations out there to get involved with, this fun-filled activity is as simple as getting a group of friends and/or loved ones together and hitting the streets for a night of audible good cheer. And if no one wants to brave the night, the cold or possible embarrassment, you can always go Christmas caroling on your own, and perhaps even pick up some new friends along the way! The reason for this is that Christmas caroling, like karaoke, is more about camaraderie, togetherness and getting into the spirit of the event than being concerned about voice, tone and pitch! It’s about seeing the smiles of the faces of others, and about having a wonderful time!
Soup Kitchens
Soup kitchens are undeniably busy during the holiday season. Along with church groups and sponsored community events, there are homeless shelters and food banks as well that offer free meals to those in need year round. A wonderful way of giving back is to help out for a few hours or evenings – whatever your schedule might allow – and assist a community, school and/or youth group in feeding the hungry. As mentioned earlier, some groups and organizations accept food from the public as well, while others may have a need for people to help cook and prepare food before the actual task of serving it.
Whatever your role may be, and whatever it is that you and your family might choose to do in an effort to help those in need this time of year, the holiday season, as well as the “season of giving” that should be year round for those in need, is a great time to help make someone’s hardship or difficulty into a moment of universal love, peace and compassion.
The following websites can help you in your decision to help make life a bit brighter for someone in need. Happy Holidays!
- Feeding America: http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/
- Food Kitchens: http://www.foodpantries.org/
- Volunteers of America: http://www.voa.org/volunteer
- Santa Mail: http://www.santamail.org/
- USPS Santa Mail: http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/holidaynews/2014/
USPS Operation Santa Participating Offices: http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/holidaynews/2014/pdf/operation-santa-post-offices-2014.pdf
