How to Give Back Without Giving Money

If your finances won't permit you to give as generously to charities this year as in the past, consider alternative ways of helping the less fortunate.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• over-stocked pantry
• over-stuffed closet with clothes you haven't worn in a while
• appliances in working condition out in your shed
• excessive furniture you no longer need
• blood
• time

1. TIME: Volunteer your time to a local organization (United Way, Big Brothers and Sisters, etc.) whenever you have time to spare and want to make a difference in your community and positively impact people's lives.

2. GIVE BLOOD: The Red Cross is always low on blood at the holidays. Giving the gift of life to someone in need will surely make you feel like one of Santa's helpers year round!

3. DONATE CLOTHES, FURNITURE, & OLD APPLIANCES (that work): Take inventory, and if you haven't worn it in a while or if you just don't LOVE it like you once did, give it to an agency that will find someone new who will LOVE your donations.
   
   Some charities will dispatch trucks to your home to pick up your donated goods, making it virtually impossible for you to come up with excuses NOT to give! (1-800-775-VETS is one that will pick up right from your front porch).

4. GET A HAIRCUT: Locks of love is an organization that takes 10" of cut hair (get details from your stylist) and makes wigs for children who suffer from various forms of cancer.

5. YOUR OWN PANTRY: Maybe you hit a good sale and have cases of soup or other non-perishables that you would be willing to donate to a local food bank?
   
   The economy has taken its toll on the local food banks, and they can only operate through donations from their communities.

Tips & Warnings

• We have a campaign in my city where A CLEANER WORLD collects used, outgrown, or donated winter coats to distribute among kids in the community in need of coats. Check around your city to see if you can do the same thing.
• Many of these organizations you make donations to are willing to give you receipts to use on your tax returns, so be sure to ask if this is important to you.

[lucindaroth]

on 1/11/2009 Good ideas

[QueenofMisc]

on 12/20/2008 Twwwwwwwwo.......... lol !
5* :-)

[e-Rambler]

on 11/18/2008 Excellent ideas and a great article. I take Step 5 seriously as there are tons of non-perishable food items in my kitchen; of that some are there sitting over a year!!!

[Sush56]

on 11/18/2008 All of these are great ways to give back. Great article!