Donating money to a charity is, without a doubt, an awesome way to support your favorite causes - they can use the cash in the areas that need it most and often they can get better deals (like food banks buying in bulk) than individuals can. But there are lots of other ways to help out, so today I wanted to list some ways you can support your favorite charities that go beyond writing a check (although, TBH, some of these things may involve some cash layout)!
- Donate your used books. Places like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or your local library will accept your used books. These organizations will most likely sell them and use the profits for support. There are also some charities that will distribute your used books or help match you with a new reader; check out this list of charities that accept and distribute used books. I love the idea of putting books back out into the world for others to enjoy.
- If you're hosting a baby shower, ask guests to bring extra packs of wipes or diapers. We did this at my sister's baby shower. The guests were so generous and we were able to donate the items to Children's Home Society of New Jersey, an organization that helps at-risk children and families.
- At your next barbeque, when your guests ask if they can bring anything, request non-perishable items that can be donated to your local food bank. Instead of having your guests bring an extra side dish, ask if they'd be willing to bring some canned vegetables or boxes of cereal.
- Participate in a walk for charity. There may be a registration fee, but sometimes there isn't. Ask your friends and family to sponsor you or join you! Charity walks are a great way to support a cause while getting outdoors at the same time.
- Organize a get-together with friends and family to put together dinner bags/snack bags/hygiene bags for your local soup kitchen. Check with your local soup kitchen and see what items they accept. Some in our area look for bagged non-perishable dinners or snacks they can hand out; they often also accept hygiene products.
- Host a Make-A-Blanket Day for Project Linus. My sister and I love making no-sew blankets for Project Linus, so we hosted a Make-A-Blanket Day and invited family and friends. It was so great to see the huge stack of blankets we had made at the end of the day.
What are some of your favorite charities? What kind of volunteer work do you do?
Now I know what you'll be bringing to my next BBQ! Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThis is such a great post!! I have to say I would love to DO more for charities. I donate quite a bit but I need to to get more involved. Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Sometimes it's nice to do something more hands-on, and a lot of these things are fun and easy to do with other people.
DeleteThis is such a great list. Even though I have a few charities that I donate to, I always wish I could do more. Last year the office where I work decided to adopt a family in need for Christmas through a local charity and we all chipped in gifts from their wishlists to make sure they had a good Christmas. We even had a gift wrapping party at work so that we could wrap up all of the gifts and get them ready for 'Santa'. I really loved doing it and hope we can do it again this year.
ReplyDeleteThank you! That's awesome that your company did that! My sister's firm often adopts families around the holidays, too.
DeleteOh, yes, absolutely, volunteering is amazing! Our time is such a valuable resource that we can share with others! And I totally agree - every little bit helps!
ReplyDeleteThese are some really great suggestions and there really are ways to contribute without actually forking out. I love that you've highlighted these ideas here.
ReplyDeleteIn my small community there are always so many things to do too as we have our own local charities and homes/orphanages and even if someone volunteers for a few hours to make up some packs or to decorate for a function - every little bit really does help!
We also hold a monthly pub quiz for various charities which are sponsored by the community (individuals or companies) and everyone who participates pays a nominal amount which includes their meal, the evening's entertainment (the quiz) and a prize (if they place). It's a lot of fun and actually getting out and doing something is oftentimes far more rewarding than simply donating, although money is obviously needed as well. ;)
So well-put, Di! I love how your community comes together and everyone helps out! That's amazing! And I agree, sometimes physically doing something feels more rewarding than giving money, which is also good!
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