Black Friday and Broke: What to Do on Black Friday when You Have No Money to Shop

There was a time in a better American economy when we never missed shopping on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Many of us will have to miss shopping on Black Friday during the worst economic crisis to face the world since the Great Depression. This Black Friday, while we are broke, we can remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas by doing things to help others less fortunate than ourselves. Here are some things you can do on Black Friday if you are broke and cannot shop.

Donate blood to the Red Cross on Black Friday. The American Red Cross is setting up several special blood drive locations that are convenient to local shopping areas. Some local chapters are paying for your blood donations. For more information, contact your local American Red Cross chapter. You can locate local Red Cross contact information from this web site: http://www.redcross.org/where/chapts.asp

Clean out those closets on Black Friday. Most cities sponsor Coat Drives for needy people. Donate a coat to a needy person for the winter season. While you are at it, take all those clothes that don't fit, winter blankets, sheets, towels, or other winter necessities to the Salvation Army or your local homeless shelter.

Volunteer to wrap Christmas presents on Black Friday for your local fire stations and police departments that sponsor the Operation Blue Santa program. If you are in a rural area, you can volunteer to wrap presents for Brown Santa sponsored by your local sheriff's department.

Volunteer to help sort and package can goods at your local food bank on Black Friday. Most food banks are in need of volunteers after Thanksgiving when they receive gracious donations from schools, churches, businesses, and other community organizations for the holidays.

Hand out handmade Christmas cards or Holiday cards on Black Friday to elderly people at a local nursing home, skilled nursing center or children's hospital. You can get some pretty nice holiday cards at the local dollar store also. Take a photo of your local community Christmas tree and include it in the card for the elderly or sick patients to hang on their walls.

Even if you do have money to shop on Black Friday, take an hour and make a difference in someone's life this holiday season by giving your time, your heart, and your spirit to a needy person on Black Friday. Happy Holidays!