Usually during the holiday season, helping
others becomes a popular topic. Even though we are currently in an economic crisis,
we can still find simple and inexpensive ways to give back. The first time I
heard about community service was in 4th grade through an organization called
4-H. Something about this club really tagged me. I was an active member for 8
years that proudly recited the pledge/ motto week after week. Our Pledge: I
pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to
larger service, and my health to better living for my club, my community, my
country and my world. As an adolescent, I thought I knew exactly what that
pledge meant, but now as an adult, UMMM I really understand it. Being a
receptive person, with an open heart and helping hands is very valuable. In
addition, the motto was "To make the best better." The word "best"
can vary to all. It can mean making the best of your worst situation, or making
the best of a better situation. It is within the beholder to determine. We as people can help make the best out of
others situations. We are not in the position to judge why people live certain
ways; however, if we know better we can help educate and empower them.
Ideas on giving back:
·
Visit a nursing home. Take some of your
free time and visit a nursing home. Read a book with an elderly person, talk
about topics in the news, play cards and bring a little joy into both of your
lives. You will probably come out with a new friend!
·
Help a school in your community. Offer to help
distribute school lunches, check or grade papers for teachers, help during
recess, or manage school activity functions.
·
Clean up your community. Participate in a
local environmental clean-up day or start your own with family and friends. Go
to your local parks, beaches, or hiking trails and pick up litter.
·
Send Holiday mail for Heroes. During the holiday
season you can send a card to a U.S. soldier through the partnership between
American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes.
·
Volunteer at a church. Offer to help with
the day care, cleaning the church, bringing fresh flowers for the services, or
offer to do office work at the church administration office.
·
Donate clothing. Are your clothes too
tight, too loose, tags still on something you never wore? Give it away. You can
stop by your local Salvation Army or Goodwill store, and many communities have
drop-off boxes where you can leave your donated goods.
·
Give to Toys for Tots.. Donate a brand new
toy to your local Toys for Tots to help bring joy to a child in need. Contact
your local Toys for Tots to learn how you can donate.
·
Give to a local food bank.. You can donate a few
of the canned goods you currently have in your pantry. With the recent economic
crisis, food banks aren't being given as much from donors and more people are
needing to be served. Contact your local food bank today to find out how you
can donate.
·
Donate books. If you have books
that have not been read in over a year, chances are you are not going to ever
read them again. Give them away! Donate your used books to libraries, schools,
or shelters so someone else can enjoy them like you once did.
· Volunteer: Giving your time is
something you can easily give for free. Find something you want to give some of
your time to and give back to your community. Homeless shelters are always in need of more volunteers yearly, not just seasonally.
We all have something to give this
season. Just offering something simple as a smile can really touch someone. We
sometimes are occupied within our own situations, problems and/or challenges
that we forget about others. Therefore, I challenge everyone to help others
within your community, school, job or even family.
