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?
