The holiday season will look different for many this year with fewer hugs and fewer large family gatherings due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Along with those changes comes an opportunity to rethink holiday traditions and explore creative ways to spread joy during the time when it’s needed most. While the holidays may be busy, it’s important to make time to give back to your community.
Here are five great ways to give back this Holiday season:
1. Host a Toy Drive or Canned Food Collection
Most local food pantries or shelters accept canned food donations. Hosting a collection of toys, books or food is a very simple and extremely effective way to contribute to a cause. United Way Community Partner, Salvation Army is a nonprofit organization that collects toys for underprivileged children around the holidays. They also collect canned goods for those in need. The charity has donation drop-off locations in Dalton and Chatsworth.
2. Sponsor a Child for Christmas
These families have been through domestic abuse situations and are just trying to get back to what their new normal is. Please consider sponsoring a child this year for the holiday season. You and your family can sponsor a child to buy Christmas presents for. You can set this up through United Way Community Partner, NWGA Family Crisis Center. You can also donate presents for United Way Community Partner, Salvation Army’s Sharing is Caring event.
NWGA Family Crisis Center - Click Here to Sponsor a Child for Christmas
Salvation Army Sharing is Caring event - Please drop off presents for the Sharing is Caring event at either the United Way Office:
816 S. Thornton Ave Dalton, GA 30720
or at the Salvation Army office:
1102 N Thornton Ave, Dalton, GA 30720
by the week of December 14th.
3. Help Build Homes with Habitat For Humanity
A really good way to volunteer as a small group is connecting with United Way Community Partner, Habitat For Humanity. The organization works to provide homes for those in need.
Imagine how much progress could be made on a home this holiday season!
4. Donate Your Talent
Volunteering your talent may be the most precious gift you can give. If you’re good at photography, for example, you could seek out opportunities to work with organizations that need help taking pictures for their website or social media platforms. Consider volunteering to read books to children whose parents are struggling with domestic violence or even helping an elderly neighbor with their yard work.
5. Give a Gift That Gives Back
We can’t ignore that this is the season for giving, and often that results in an endless search for gifts for loved ones. This year, consider donating to United Way of Northwest Georgia in honor of your friends and family. You will be spreading the love twice as far by helping our community members who are in need and giving your loved one a meaningful gift. Give a gift today.
Whether you have a small group or you just want to volunteer a few hours of your time, there are multiple ways you and your family or organization can volunteer during this holiday season. Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people and organizations in need.
If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Stephanie Hogshead, Director of Volunteer Engagement. You can also view all volunteer opportunities available through United Way’s 23 Community Partners Click Here.