How to Help the Less Fortunate During the Christmas Season

Many people enjoy Christmas and look forward to it for months. Between spending time with loved ones and exchanging gifts, it is a wonderful time of year. However, not everyone is as lucky. There are those that are less fortunate and are having a rough time making it. Spread some of your blessings to others that may not have much by volunteering during the Christmas season.

Instructions

1. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. They usually are quite busy during the holiday season, especially because of the cold weather. Spend a few hours serving those that are just looking for a hot meal.

2. Play “Santa” to a family in need. This usually requires choosing a letter from a child written to “Santa,” or picking a wish list off of a tree of a local business or organization. Purchase one or all of the items on the list, and send it to the family as “Santa.” It’s truly appreciated by parents who may not be able to afford much, or anything, to give their children for Christmas.

3. Donate warm clothing to a local charity. Sweaters, long pants, and especially winter coats are in high demand during the cold weather. Around Christmas when you know you’re going to be receiving plenty of presents and buying new clothing for yourself, gather some of the warm clothes that you own and donate them to a local charity that will distribute it to those in need.

4. Visit those staying in a hospital. Not everyone staying in a hospital has loved ones to visit them. Either they have no one or their family and friends can’t make it there. Christmas can be quite lonely if you have to spend it by yourself. Give a few hours of your time by visiting hospital patients, even if all you do is have a simple chat.

5. Volunteer at a senior center. Many of the elderly that are living at a senior center don’t have family or friends to visit them. Volunteer for a few hours by helping to serve meals or simply talking to them. They have so many stories and so many lessons to teach, and they don’t always have people in their lives that they can have conversations with. You could end up making their Christmas.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a specific place where you would like to volunteer, call ahead of time to ask if they need anyone.

• Make sure not to commit to volunteering anywhere unless you know that you absolutely will be able to do it.