15 Simple Ways to Give this Season

I just wrote out this to-do list and am posting it to remind me of my commitments during this holiday season.

1. Have a make and take craft party with your child and a few of their friends. While baking cookies make something special for someone and wrap it up then have a small feast.

2. Teach a simple craft to a class, after school group, or senior citizens.
Oriental Traders has some crafty kits you can get for an entire class for under $10.

3. Take extra Christmas cards to a nursing home or hospital and sign them "With Blessings from Santa or Santa's Elves".
The staff usually know who gets things from people and who don't, they will put the proper names on the envelopes and deliver them.

4. Volunteer to ring a Salvation Army Bell for a few hours.

5. Donate to the local Food Pantry.

6. Donate food or money to the SPCA or Humane Society.

7. Help a neighbor out by shovelling or plowing.

8. Pay a utility bill for someone who is out of work or sick and money is tight.

9. Donate to your town's community chest, money, time, or toys, to help other town folk out.

10. Donate your books (in good condition) to the library (book sale) or school (ask if they take them). Hospitals may take current magazines for the lobby area.

11. Volunteer to read a story or poem to your child's classroom.

12. Volunteer to read a story to a group of senior citizens who suffer from Alzheimer's. This helps out the nursing home staff tremendously!

13. Call or write to someone you have not contacted in ages.

14. Give a gift certificate to the grocery store or local department store to a family who needs a bit of help due to unfortunate circumstances.

15. Make a batch of cookies and deliver them to the neighbors with your Christmas card.