Simple Ways for Charitable Giving, Even During a Recession

As the holiday season approaches, the appeals for contributions to myriad charitable organizations begin finding their way to our mailboxes. They start as a trickle and finish as a deluge. This isn't surprising; the generosity of Americans is well-documented. According to the National Philanthropic Trust we contributed almost $308 billion to charity in 2008, in spite of a deep economic recession.

Still, this year saw continued growth in the number of people facing the downturn's challenges: jobs lost to downsizing or forced early retirement, flat wages, struggles to meet rising mortgage payments, and diminished, if not obliterated, retirement savings accounts, to name a few. If you are one of those forced to make do with far less this holiday season, you might conclude that your charitable giving will be limited to dropping spare change in the familiar Salvation Army kettles, or just skipping it altogether. However, before you embrace Ebenezer Scrooge as your new role model, consider some of the ways you can contribute to your community that won't add more stress to either you or your wallet. Savvy philanthropists with more goodwill than money even find ways to make them a time for holiday socializing with family, friends, or co-workers with "project parties". They know that pooled resources and effort go further and with greater effect. Some of the best gatherings I have attended were group projects where hot chocolate, sandwiches, and laughter were served up alongside the work. Best of all, many of these options can provide you with opportunities to network and remain involved because they address needs that exist beyond the holidays.

If cash contributions are simply not an option for you this season, consider donating a few hours of your time to a good cause. While all charities and other non-profits require cold, hard cash for operating expenses, many also depend on volunteers to carry out a portion of their work. They recognize the value of donated time and effort.

An excellent example of this is Habitat for Humanity, which reports building more than 30,000 homes in the United States since its inception in 1978. Other organizations, like SNAP of Spokane, Washington, utilize volunteers to help low-income senior citizens with tasks they can no longer do for themselves, such as mowing grass, raking leaves, clearing snow from walkways, or performing minor home repairs and improvements.

Demand for the services of food banks is especially high during the holiday season. Food banks often need volunteers for collecting food, sorting it, distributing it to those who would otherwise go hungry. To learn more about them, look in your local telephone directory for listings under "Food Banks" or consult the Web site for Feeding America to locate those in your area.

Feeling the pinch of budget cuts, many public libraries are looking to used-book sales to supplement their resources. You can help by donating the books you don't plan to read again and recruiting the people you know to do the same. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of watching the delighted expression of a local librarian as she examined the contents of two paper grocery bags, both filled to the top with near-perfect books that I knew I wouldn't read again. She asked me twice if I was sure I wanted to donate them, as if she were afraid I might snatch them back. I didn't, of course, but I did walk away with an enormous sense of satisfaction for having done something, however small, to benefit my community's library.

There are literally dozens of ways we can practice charitable giving, even during a recessionary squeeze. If you are looking for new ways to give, but don't where to begin, check out the online resource Volunteer Match. Using this as a starting point, you will likely discover the opportunity to give that is right for you.