How to be a Cheerful Giver

Four easy ways you can help those in need this holiday season

With the holiday season on its way, it’s hard not to get caught up in our large consumerist society. People are browsing store catalogs and searching for the biggest sales online, excited to blow away their hard-earned money.

But sometimes, we forget that the holiday season is not so cheery for some due to the lack of resources that they have. If you’re interested in helping out those in need and making their world a little brighter, here are four quick ways you can do so:

1. Donate Food
Donate non-perishable food to those in need so that families can have a holiday dinner, even if they cannot afford it. You can also help feed the hungry patrons at Our Daily Bread in Baltimore by simply dropping a casserole off at St. Joseph Parish in Cockeysville.

2. Donate Toys and School Supplies
There are several places looking for toy and school supply donations for low-income families. City Church Baltimore and St. Gregory in East Baltimore are accepting donated gifts so that children will have something to open on Christmas morning. Weinberg Housing and Resource Center hosts a program called “Adopt a Resident” where volunteers are assigned a resident experiencing homelessness and provide them with a gift. Lastly, the Esperanza Center, an immigrant center in Baltimore, is currently accepting donated school supplies.

3. Donate your Time
Even though some may consider this time of year a shopping spree, sometimes, the best gift can be to sacrifice yourself and your precious time. Weinberg Housing and Resource Center is always looking for volunteers to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner for their residents. City Church Baltimore is also looking for volunteers on Dec. 10 and 17 from 1-4 p.m. to work The Christmas Store (presented by The Foundry Baltimore) to prepare donated gifts.

4. Educate Yourself
Make sure to keep yourself up-to-date with current events and community happenings, so you will be able to give fully this holiday season.
And there you have it! Remember to be aware and spread the word to your friends on how to give—not just money or material things, but precious time—to help others around you.

Photo by Ben White from Unsplash.com