5 Ways to Give Locally

With the holidays right around the corner, December offers the perfect opportunity to give back to the place you call home. 

​It truly “takes a village” to keep a community functioning effectively, whether that’s by keeping our waterways clean, feeding the hungry, teaching our kids, or supporting small businesses.

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SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES

Our community has been impacted by the pandemic, with many businesses being forced to limit capacity, instill social distancing efforts, and even shutter entirely in some cases. Help keep money in our local economy by shopping local instead of relying on online shopping from national chains.
 
Ideas:

• ● From handcrafted soaps and one-of-a-kind apparel to locally produced chocolate and small-batch wines, you’ll find plenty of unique gifts at the small businesses that dot our community.
• ● Consider purchasing tickets to attend live-streamed holiday concerts and shows.
• ● Buy cookies and other baked goods from our local bakery.
• ● Get takeout from our local restaurants.
• ● Support local farmers by purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables from them

 
Take action: If you’re concerned about shopping in person right now, many of these businesses, though small, offer online shopping, with options for in-store pick-up, curbside delivery, and/or mail options.

CLEAN UP YOUR COMMUNITY

Besides beautifying the area, picking up trash keeps it out of our local waterways, which means a cleaner water supply for all of us.
 
Ideas:

• ● Whether you make this a solo effort or join in an organized group event, pick up trash in your neighborhood, at a local park, or elsewhere in our community.


• ● Depending on your community’s regulations, you can recycle many home items such as paper, glass, and aluminum.
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• ● ​And don’t forget to clean the exterior of your home, where water runoff (such as on your driveway and sidewalks) can carry debris into the local sewer system.

 
Take action: Check with your local municipality to learn about environmental clean-up efforts in our community, as well as recycling and composting. 

VOLUNTEER

Depending on your schedule and your preferences, you might be able to volunteer in-person or from home, whether it’s a one-time effort or ongoing project. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people in your community as you make a positive impact together for a shared cause.
 
Ideas:

• ● Give your time to a cause or organization that really matters to you.
• ● Tap into a skill you already have, like creating videos, and offer your services.​
• ● Or learn a new skill (like fundraising) to benefit your cause of choice.

 
Take action: Start with your local community to see where its needs are the greatest. Make a point to help this holiday season, perhaps extending your commitment throughout 2021.

PERFORM RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

Don’t think you need to “go big or go home” in your give-back efforts. You can make a big difference one small act at a time.
 
Ideas:

• ● Give a generous tip to a waitress.
• ● Pay for the coffee of the car behind you in the drive-through.
• ● Take care of a neighbor’s pet while they’re out of town.
• ● Send holiday cards to deployed military personnel.
• ● Deliver a plate of homemade holiday cookies to our local fire or police station.
• ● Smile at a stranger.​
• ● Rake leaves for an elderly neighbor.
• ● Thank your child’s teacher for all their hard work this year.
• ● Send an uplifting text to a friend.
• ● Compliment someone.
• ● Help a coworker with an unpleasant task.  

 
Take action: Need more ideas? Visit randomactsofkindness.org for hundreds of inspiring ways to make someone’s day a little brighter.

DONATE TO LOCAL CHARITIES

Nonprofits could always use your financial support, so consider making a monetary donation to help them carry out their mission in our community. But if money is tight (or you want to support in other ways), think beyond just donating dollars.
 
Ideas:

• ● Give blood to our local blood bank.
• ● Donate new or used books to our community library.
• ● Send school supplies to our neighborhood elementary school.
• ● Help struggling neighbors by donating blankets to the homeless.
• ● Pick out toys to give to a charity that caters to families. 
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Take action: Many collection efforts run by charitable organizations and businesses take place during the holidays. Look to see what’s already taking place in our community and choose one or more to give to this season.