The holiday season is, without a doubt, the time of year when more charitable donations are made. The spirit of giving overcomes humanity and we find ourselves increasing contributions to our favourite charities, volunteering our time to local soup kitchens and buying blankets to distribute to those who look like they could use some extra warmth and good cheer.
Unfortunately, many condo residents are lamenting that they cannot physically go to their usual spots to give back as COVID-19 remains an active concern. But while things may look a little different this year, this does not mean that all opportunity is lost.
To get the ball rocking and rolling, here are five ideas for giving back without even leaving your condo.
Send holiday cards to strangers
Send a holiday card to one of your local retirement homes. Many residents will not receive cards for a variety of reasons, so why not send a little unexpected joy to someone this holiday season?
Support a virtual shoebox campaign
This year, instead of collecting and packing items and sending them away, organizations like The Shoebox Project for Women and Samaritan’s Purse (Operation Christmas Child )have orchestrated virtual shoebox campaigns to ensure that they are still able to distribute gift-filled shoeboxes to those in need during COVID.
Donate some time to chat with a senior
Have some time to spare? Often that can make more of an impact than money. There are organizations which can hook you up with a few lonely folks looking for someone to chat with over the phone. CHATS (Community and Home Assistance to Seniors) and Chatting to Wellness are just two of a number of organizations that help connect volunteers to seniors.
Fundraise to purchase food for your local food bank
For just $200 people can buy a 600 pound skid of food for their local food bank. That’s a lot of food. If there is no money to spare, try posting on social media to let friends and family know you are fundraising to donate back to your local food bank. Ask those that are wanting to contribute to send you a message. CanadaHelps is a charity that supports all Canadian charities, no matter how big or small; this includes soup kitchens.
In line at a drive-through? Pay it forward
A cup of coffee is sometimes all it takes to turn someone’s frown upside-down. Consider asking the attendant to allow you to pay for the order for the vehicle behind you. More often than not, this starts a chain-reaction of goodwill and happy smiles.
Kirsten Dale is a registered condominium manager (ACMO) with MCRS Property Management, based in Huntsville, Ontario providing condominium management services in Simcoe, Muskoka, Parry Sound and Haliburton.
