Happy Tuesday! It’s time for another edition of Tuesday Topics. This week’s Tuesday Topic: FREE topic! Remember to link-up with Kim and Zenaida and the bottom of this post.
People normally get the urge to volunteer more during the holidays. Maybe it’s all the holiday decorations, or the music, but there’s just something about helping others that is super rewarding. The only issue is that people are normally super busy during the holidays, so it can be hard to fit in volunteering. Here are a few ideas for volunteering during the holidays that won’t take up too much of your time!
I recently found out about this organization that tackles food waste. Basically the organization connects local food donors (stores, bakeries, supermarkets) with local service agencies (soup kitchen, food pantries, shelters). Volunteers pick up excess food items from the food donors and deliver these items to the service agencies. Volunteers can sign up to do drop offs via the app or website. It’s a really great way to make a difference that won’t take up too much of your time (no more than one hour). I did my first “food rescue” on Thanksgiving and it was great!
One of my OTF friends told me about this organization last year. Their mission is to feed families, spread kindness, and strengthen communities through meals. For this organization, you make a profile on their portal and you can indicate how many lasagnas you want to make, how frequently, and how far away you are willing to travel. I don’t like to overextend myself so I sign up to make one per month and that works well with my schedule. For people that love to cook, this is an awesome way to provide a lasagna for a family in need in your community and it would only take 1-2 hours.
A few employees did this volunteer activity as part of our Global Volunteer Day and I knew I had to share. You can write letters that will be included in every Care Package sent to Military and First Responders. If you’re having family come over for the holidays, this would be a great activity that everyone could do together!
Tell me: Do you normally volunteer during the holidays?
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This sounds like a great way to volunteer! Normally, I don’t, but at work every year we adopt a family and provide gifts for the kids. This year we are adopting 2 families! It feels good to do this.
I love that idea! That’s such a great way to give back and to make sure those families have a nice Christmas.
These are all fabulous! I think all of us have the time, it’s just a matter of making volunteer work a priority in our schedules…and it doesn’t require a huge commitment, either. Like with with lasagna – a couple hours a month! A lot of times when I make lasagna for myself, it’s easy to make a second one to put in the freezer anyways…I often pass that extra one along to someone else (a new mother, a family in crisis, etc.). Thank you for your volunteer efforts, KimTwin!!!
Absolutely! Sometimes people think volunteering has to take hours of time but really you can make a difference in an hour. I do the same thing when I make lasagna so I figured why not donate the extra one to a family in need – such a win-win!
Awesome idea for a post, Kim! These are all great ideas and I especially love the idea of the food rescue that you participated in on Thanksgiving.
Thanks Debbie! The food rescue was so easy too and didn’t take up much time at all.
At my previous jobs we’d adopt a family. It was very rewarding.
I do volunteer at races and bring canned goods when they collect.
Adopting a family for the holidays is such a great way to give back!
These are great causes, Kim. I love that Operation Gratitude with writing letters.
This one can be easily extended. We all know people – friends, neighbours, or acquaintances – who might be lonely or have gone through a traumatic experience.
It’s so nice to just drop a line and let them know that we are thinking of them.
Totally agree! Sometimes people just need to know that others are thinking about them 🙂
I love this, especially the Lasagne Love one! My advent calendar usually includes some donations – for example, we will drop some Christmas goodies at the local police station or fire station. I also take clothes to the Women’s Shelter. But I haven’t actually volunteered my time which I think is also important.
I love that! Those small acts of kindness really add up during the holidays.
I was just saying that I wish there was a way to donate excess food. These are both new to me organizations and I will check to see if they are around me as well. thanks!
Two new and great organizations!!! Unfortunately, I do not volunteer during the holidays but would like to.