How To Give Back At Christmas

Christmas is a time for celebration, laughter and happiness. In an ideal world, everyone would be able to afford food on the table and be able to spend the holidays with loved ones. However, there are many less fortunate people who don’t have these things. And as a result, Christmas can bring feelings of despair and loneliness for many people.

Even though you might not realise it, you can make a difference. So with that in mind, I’ve put together this guide on how to give back at Christmas time.

Donate To A Charity

If you can spare some money this Christmas, then donating to charity is one of the kindest and most helpful action you can take. Even if you can only spare £1, it still makes a difference to someone’s life. There are many great charities to donate to at Christmas, including:

• Salvation army
• NSPCC
• Crisis
• Age UK
• Action For Children

It can be hard deciding which charity to donate to, so I recommend that you take your time looking up each charity. I’m sure we would all love to donate to many causes, but that’s often not possible. I’d suggest that you narrow it down to just 1 or 2 charities (or as many as you prefer) and give whatever you can afford. Like I said, this doesn’t have to be a big amount of money. £1 or £2 can quickly add up and make a huge difference!

Similar: How To Slow Down At Christmas

Donate To A Food Bank

BanktheFood is a convenient app that allows you to find your nearest food bank and the items they’re looking for. BanktheFood are a small charity led by volunteers with the aim to help those who are struggling. Food banks rely on donations all year around, but Christmas can be an especially difficult time. If you can donate, then this is a great way to give back this Christmas. Remember it’s not just food items they’re looking for. Hygiene products and toiletries are highly sought after items that your local food bank may need.

List Unwanted Food Or Gifts On Olio

Olio is another great way to give back to the local community this Christmas. It’s free to download and list items on Olio and it’s very easy to use. If you have spare food items or anything you no longer need, consider giving them away on Olio. Everything on Olio is listed for free, which can help out a lot of people in your local community.

You can list food products, baby clothes, books and anything you don’t need anymore. If you receive any unwanted gifts, don’t throw them away, list them on this app instead. Who knows, it could help someone out greatly.

The great thing about Olio is there’s also a borrow and a wanted section. If you have something that you only use occasionally but wouldn’t like to part with, then you can let someone in the local community borrow it instead. The wanted section allows anyone to list their requests, too. For example, someone may need a pair of smart shoes for work or another person might need a clothes airer. These items can be very useful to them, especially for families or individuals on a low income.

Ask A Vulnerable Person If They Need Help

If you know anyone, whether it’s a neighbour or a family friend, who is vulnerable this Christmas, then offering your help would make a lot of difference. There are many ways that you can help a vulnerable person. You could offer to do their food shopping for them, pick up their medication or help them with their chores. Whatever it is, they are sure to be extremely grateful to you. It doesn’t take much to offer up a little bit of your time, but it can mean the world to someone else.

Give Your Time

When thinking about how to give back at Christmas, consider gifting your time. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the local community and change a lot of lives. You could volunteer at a charity shop, food bank, animal shelter or nursing home. You can start by asking local organisations and charities if they need any help over Christmas. Alternatively, you can visit their websites or give them a call. Many places will be glad to receive some extra help!

There are many other ways that you can give back this Christmas, too. Checking in on a loved one who may be struggling or feeling lonely during the holidays. Visiting a neighbour for a cup of tea. Asking family members if they need help preparing Christmas dinner or wrapping gifts.

When you think about it, your time is really one of the best ways that you can give back. What might only take up a few minutes of your time could mean the world to someone else.