The sun is setting earlier, the temperatures are cooling and the holidays are right around the corner. There’s no better time than now to think about giving back to those less fortunate who could benefit from a helping hand — be it for warmth, food, shelter or holiday cheer.
Your child’s school may already organize food or other donation drives, but if you’re looking for a few easy ways to give back this fall with your family, check our top four suggestions:
- Organize a Thanksgiving Food Drive
This is a great way for your children and their neighborhood friends to work together to give back to those in need. You (or your child) can print out a flyer with the date and time of your Thanksgiving Food Drive and deliver it to your neighbors’ mailboxes (or email the flyer if you know their email addresses). Ask your neighbors to put out one bag of non-perishable goods on their doorsteps on the date of your drive for your child to collect and bring to a local food pantry. Many food pantries have specific items they request during Thanksgiving, so be sure to check their websites for specifics.
- Donate Clothing
Donating clothing is easier now more than ever. The local veteran’s groups, Salvation Army and Goodwill organizations will even come to your house and pick up your donations.
- Provide a Toy for Children on Christmas
You can donate toys or money to the Toys for Tots program, which collects new, unwrapped toys for less fortunate children so that they have a present to unwrap on Christmas.
- Operation Santa
There is no better feeling than being able to make a child’s Christmas wish come true. Especially when it’s for a child who mailed a letter to Santa hoping he will deliver their wish on Christmas morning. Check this link to see if your local post office supports Operation Santa, and you can be an elf to answer a child’s Christmas letter and make their wish come true.
Do you have any other great ideas for giving back this fall? Let us know in the comments.
