Donating Tips and Ways to Show Thankfulness During the Holiday Season

The holidays are here. Well, they are to me. October 1st always marks the beginning of the holiday season for me. I love these three months, not because of the receiving, but in the giving comes the joy, the elation I hold so dear.

Ways to give to others over the Holiday Season- October

Donate a pumpkin full of candies to your local children's hospital. Encourage all your friends and co-workers to do the same. Drop off pumpkins to your church for the youth to carve. Drop some off at a local child services agency. Stock up on baking essentials. Make a different basket each week for your church or children's school. They will know who will greatly benefit from your kindness. Know of a struggling business? Patronize there more this month. Encourage friends, and family to do so as well. Join a charity walk about a cause you believe in such as cancer walks. Do you knit? I do not, but if you do, then knit away. Knit blankets and donate them. Crochet sweaters and donate to local universities and area shelters. Donate cat litter and cat food to your local shelters that has in place the policy of not adopting out black cats this month and of intaking any black cat they receive into their rescue.

Ways to give to others over the Holiday Season- November

When you go to purchase your turkey, purchase two. Donate one to your church, or shelter. Purchase three or more; donate one to a struggling young family you know or to a local Boy or Girl Scout troop. Boy and Girl Scouts can cook a meal- with assistance, of course, and donate the meal to someone they know.

Stock up on pecan and pumpkin pies- take one to work a week. Share with others or present one as a thoughtful just because gift to the co-worker you know is more frazzled than you are.

Make fall wreaths and take them to local nursing homes. Help decorate for the season. Stay and hear stories about seasons past. Know of a show that is coming into town? Call the local radio station and request that a family in need receive the tickets for free. Drop of some coffee to various 12-step meetings places. Fall and winter can be cold months, and the coffee (or cocoa) can warm someone up. Go by Goodwill and purchase some children's winter shoes. Drop them off at your children's school. If you are thankful to someone, let him or her know!

Ways to give to others over the Holiday Season- December

Donate baking items to local shelters. Donate cookies and cakes that your children and you made. Is there a neighbor that you have been meaning to get to know better, but time gets the better of you? Take him, her, or them some hot cocoa and cookies. Host a cookie exchange in your neighborhood (This is my all time favorite! Both for my daughter and her friends as well as our neighbors. It is the time of year we can play catch up and enjoy laughter.)

Participate in the Angel Tree if there is one in your neighborhood. Buy and extra ornament or two and donate to your local library. Donate a small box to your local fire department. They know families in need of them. Winter coats that no longer fit? Drop off at hospitals and shelters. Invite a single parent over for dinner- with her children. Host a craft day at your house. Make gifts that can be distributes however you see fit.

Enjoy the season!