5 ways to give back during the holiday season

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. In addition to sharing meals via Zoom and virtual Secret Santa gifting, embrace the spirit of the holiday season by giving back.

United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s Seasons of Caring, Sponsored by Penske Corp., offers opportunities for individuals and groups to give back through meaningful volunteer work during the holiday season and year-round.

Volunteers are needed more than ever as we work with our partners to help the community recover and stabilize the 44 percent of families that were struggling to meet their basic needs even before the pandemic.

Below we’ve highlighted five fun and safe ways you and your family or organization can give back this holiday season.

Deliver food and smiles

After months of isolation, the holiday season can be a particularly difficult time for seniors. You can help by joining with Bridging Communities, Inc. to deliver boxes of groceries to homebound seniors. If you are able to commit to delivering boxes each month, you can distribute to the same route and build relationships with the seniors you visit, which is sure to brighten their day, and yours.

Shop for good

HAVEN’s Holiday Market empowers domestic violence and sexual assault survivors who have recently utilized the organization’s services to “shop” (for free) through hundreds of items that you and other caring community members donate. In addition to donating, volunteers can also accompany survivors through the market on Dec. 9 and 10 and help them pick out special gifts for their children and themselves. For the first time, the market will be held outdoors to accommodate CDC social distancing guidelines so bundle up and get ready to shop.

Share a kind word

Greeting cards are a great way to stay connected with the family members and friends you’re unable to spend time with over the holidays. This year, support Jewish Senior Life by expanding your holiday card list to include local seniors. Write a positive message to let them know that there is someone thinking of them. This is also a fun activity to engage children of all ages who can write their own encouraging messages, and add colorful decorations or drawings.

Give a toy

For children, there are few things more exciting than bounding out of bed to unwrap a brand-new toy on a holiday morning. But for families struggling to meet their basic needs, there is often no room in the budget for extra items. By donating toys to Southwest Solutions, you can help ensure smiles abound this holiday season. Items on the organization’s most wanted list include sports balls, diverse dolls, Legos, craft kits, books and puzzles for various ages.

Gather a small group

Instead of an indoor gathering at home, recruit a small group of family and friends to help others in an environment where there’s plenty of room for social distancing. This November, Focus:Hope is in need of volunteers to pack food boxes for seniors. Face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer will be provided to keep everyone safe.

For a full list of volunteer activities, visit our Volunteer Portal.