As soon as the last Halloween costume gets stored away, many people begin preparing for the holiday season. While turkeys, jingle bells, dreidels, and eggnog are major parts of the holiday season, so too is volunteerism and giving. If you’ve never been intentional about giving during this season, there are a few ways you can get started. Listed below is a round-up of places to donate your time or resources over the holiday seasons.
S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat) This community-based organization is in NW DC and serves the homeless population. They provide health services, food and clothing. They also provide job training, addiction services and more. This holiday season, you can donate a Thanksgiving Dinner basket filled with all the delicious fixings included in a typical holiday dinner.
Angel Tree 2017 You can become an individual sponsor or sponsor with a group to provide toys and clothing for children who wouldn’t normally receive gifts at Christmas time. You can fill out the forms and coordinate your donations and gifts with your local Salvation Army.
Bread for the City’s Holiday Helpings This annual tradition is an annual initiative done by Bread for the City. Starting from Nov. 1st to Dec. 24th, this organization provides free meals. This year, their goal is to provide 8,000 meals. For $32, you can cover a family of four and they’ll be able to enjoy a delicious turkey dinner. If you choose to donate on specific days, anonymous donor will match your gift. If you’d like to take it a step further, consider hosting or starting your own drive in your community. Take a look at the organization’s drive kit and get started that way.
Capital Area Food Bank There’s a really unique way to take part in the great work of the Capital Area Food Bank. You can host a digital food drive. Think of crowdsourcing platforms like GoFundMe and YouCaring. Capital Area Food Bank created a similar platform so that you can create a team and host a party against hunger. In this effort, you’ll be able to share the team page with your sphere of influence. If you don’t want to host a digital food drive, you can donate money to provide meals. Every dollar will provide 2.5 meals. You can decide the amount and whether you want it to reoccur on a consistent basis.
Toys for Tots Since 1947, Toys for Tots have traditionally distributed toys for children in need at Christmas. While it happens nationwide, there are lots of locations all over D.C., Maryland and Virginia. You can donate toys locally and it’s also possible to donate financial gifts. To take it a step further, you’re more than welcome to become a local campaign coordinator. There are a few components involved in becoming a coordinator and you’ll have to apply. Another route to take with Toys for Tots involves volunteering in person. Toy collection and toy sorting are both major jobs that this organization faces each year.
