How to Give Generously - Community Service Version

I wrote another article about how to give generously without breaking the bank. That was just some ideas that I had for one person, this is for community service organizations. Ladies circles, Sunday School classes, community organizations, your office at work. These ideas shouldn't take much effort to organize and the end result could make a difference to many people.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A little money
• People willing to participate

1. CHRISTMAS GIFTS - Instead of investing in a dirty Santa, have everyone draw names - and you buy a gift for your person that you think they would have loved as a child, or suits their personality.
   
   Have fun exchanging gifts, and then donate the gifts to charity. Toys for Tots is an excellent organization, as well as the Salvation Army.

2. DOLLAR A WEEK - Can your members spare one dollar a week? Give your treasurer the money and save, save, save. If you have 10 people participating, you can have $520 for a really cool project.
   
   It may be a good idea to have this end in the summer months so you can participate in providing fans for seniors, or buy back to school gifts for children in your community, or a scholarship for a child.

3. CLEAN CABINETS/CLIP COUPONS - Another thing people don't think of in the off-season of giving is your local food pantry. Time for CC/CC!!!
   Clean Cabinets - get rid of some of those cans of food, extras you may have and donate to a local food bank.
   Clip Coupons - go to the store that doubles coupons and buy lots of stuff to give away. Split the cost with your members.

4. EBAY - Do you have an eBay savvy person in your group? Bring something to sell on eBay.com, donate the proceeds to your charity of choice. Or save it for your rainy day fund.

5. USE YOUR SKILLS - Are you a professional organization? Provide advice in your field of expertise for a public organization. Take a Saturday to help out someone who can benefit from your knowledge.

6. SENIORS - There are many shut ins, or people in rest homes who could benefit from your company. Consider, as a group, visiting a rest home once a month. Some groups may have more time than others, but here are some ways you can get involved with seniors:
   * Meals on Wheels
   * Telephone Reassurance Project - call a senior daily to say hi and check on them.
   * Give old magazines to a rest home
   * Help a shut in with home repairs, or grocery shopping
   * Pet therapy - take a pet to visit folks
   * Host a tea party at the rest home
   
   These little things can make a huge difference to a lonely person.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many ways go give that won't take much money but a little time and can make a BIG difference in many lives. You and your organization can make a difference.

Resources

• How to Give Generously
• Click to Give

[CBPope]

on 11/20/2008 Charity should be year round! Thanks for the tips

[LilacGirl]

on 7/18/2008 Some great ideas for giving.

[Susanh]

on 6/30/2008 Yes! 5*****

[luv2blog]

on 6/22/2008 One of the most inexpensive gift you can give is time. Oftern, many people just want somebody to talk to and some of them have great stories to tell!

[pixiemama]

on 6/17/2008 Great article