By Kaitlyn MacGregor, Metro EDGE Leadership Council & HealthCorps
It’s that time of year again – when stores are bringing out their holiday décor and eggnog is back on grocery store shelves, and all before Thanksgiving too! The holidays are always overwhelming with what seems like a million things to do, from decorating and shopping to family trips and holiday parties, but its also a time to think about giving back to our communities.
The holiday season offers a broad variety of opportunities to give back to your community through donations or volunteer work, but with so many ways to give back where do you start?
Find Your Cause
Take a minute to think about what you are passionate about? I’m all about programs for kids and our furry friends and try to find a new organization to work with every year around the holidays. I look for inspiration and organizations to work with on KCRA’s Best Local Charity List and individual volunteer opportunities on Hands on Sacramento.
Grab a Friend
No reason to be donating and volunteering all on your own! Whether you want to use the time to reconnect with someone special or go big and bring the whole office, it will be a chance to connect while helping others. Don’t have time to volunteer together? Encourage your family or office to pick a way to donate such as collecting toys or pooling your resources and adopting a family.
Getting a group of people organized to donate has never been easier then it is now in the era of technology. One of the best tools I’ve come across is the Amazon wish list. You can create a list of items to purchase and can either share the link or make it public to give other people in your group ideas as well. Plus there is nothing so convenient as having everything shipped to your door! Combine it with some holiday purchases you were already planning to make and you’ll be knocking items off your to-do list.
What Metro EDGE is Doing
If you still aren't sure what you want to give back for the holidays don’t forget that Metro EDGE will be collecting toys at the Holiday mixer for EDGE’s current beneficiary, The Sacramento Children’s Home. You can also volunteer by fixing a dinner for the Sacramento Children’s Home Crisis Nursery any night during the week. The Children's Home is also asking for volunteers to help track, sort and wrap gifts Dec. 9 - 20. To schedule a dinner contribution night or volunteer time, contact Judy Schefer at judy.schefer@kidshome.org or 916-452-3981.
