Current:Home > ScamsGiving back during the holiday season: What you need to know to lend a helping hand -CapitalWay
Giving back during the holiday season: What you need to know to lend a helping hand
Charles Langston View
Date:2025-04-07 19:46:37
Each year, the holiday season entices people to find ways to give back to those in need.
Volunteering increases by 50% during the holiday season. Many factors play a role in people's desire to give back to their community which could include religious reasons, values or personal fulfillment according to UT Dallas Magazine.
If you are looking to give back but finding it hard to know where to start, there are many options.
Volunteering at homeless shelters
During the holidays, homeless shelters around the country are in need of more volunteers. Many shelters could use the extra set of helping hands to accommodate the influx of people in need of food and shelter as the weather is typically colder during the holidays.
In 2022, the Department of Housing and Development's Annual Homelessness Assessment Report estimated that 582,000 people experienced homelessness in the U.S.
Here are the top 5 U.S states with the highest percentage of homeless people according to the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report.
State | Percentage |
California | 67.3% |
Mississippi | 63.6% |
Hawaii | 62.7% |
Oregon | 61.7% |
Arizona | 59.2% |
Homeless Crisis in the U.S:More cities and states make homeless encampments a crime, leaving low-income people with few options
Charitable giving
Around the holiday season, many see it as an opportunity to give to charities.
According to statistics on Double The Donation's website, Americans gave $499.33 billion dollars to charity in 2022.
There are hundreds and thousands of charitable organizations in the U.S that help those in need.
Below are a just a few to keep in mind if you're in the giving spirit this holiday season.
Toys for Tots
Around Christmas, some families have difficulty providing Christmas gifts for their children. Gifting toys to children for some families could be difficult due to rising inflation. Last year, 69% of families saw a rise in Christmas gifts for that year, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Their mission is to collect and distribute toys to the less fortunate during the holiday season.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing mental health programs and crisis intervention to LGBTQ+ youth.
LGBTQ+ teens are four times more likely to attempt suicide. Donating to the Trevor Project can help them continue their mission to advocate for LGBTQ+ teens.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a leading pediatric treatment and research facility focused on treating pediatric diseases, mostly childhood cancer patients. Families are able to reach out to St. Jude to have their treatment, travel, housing and food expenses taken care of because of donations given to the charity according to their website.
Help the food banks:The staggering hunger crisis in America: How you can help struggling food banks this year
Other unique ways to volunteer and donate around the holiday season
There are many more ways to give back during the holidays. Here is a list of multiple ways you can lend a helping hand.
- Donate or volunteer at a food bank
- Volunteer at a dog shelter
- Sponsor a family
- Serve as a correctional volunteer
- Donate old clothes
- Help seniors in assisted living facilities
- Make holiday cards for veterans
Giving Tuesday
Also keep in mind, Giving Tuesday which is next Tuesday Nov. 28.
Always the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, many have taken part in Giving Tuesday since it was created in 2012.
It's a day that encourages others to do good as well as give to charitable organizations.
veryGood! (32)
Related
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- PHOTOS: What it's like to be 72 — the faces (and wisdom) behind the age
- Masked shooters kill 4 people and injure 3 at an outdoor party in California, police say
- NFL draft's QB conundrum: Could any 2024 passers be better than Caleb Williams?
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- In Hawaii, coral is the foundation of life. What happened to it after the Lahaina wildfire?
- Caitlin Clark makes 2 free throws to break Pete Maravich’s NCAA Division I scoring record
- Chris Mortensen, an award-winning reporter who covered the NFL, dies at 72
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- A Lake Oswego dad is accused of drugging girls at a sleepover by lacing smoothies: Reports
Ranking
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- 12 feet of snow, 190 mph wind gust as 'life-threatening' blizzard pounds California
- Body of missing Florida teen Madeline Soto found, sheriff says
- Missouri governor commutes prison sentence for ex-Kansas City Chiefs coach who seriously injured child in drunken-driving wreck
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Getting off fossil fuels is hard, but this city is doing it — building by building
- From spiral galaxies to volcanic eruptions on Jupiter moon, see these amazing space images
- Rihanna performs first full concert in years at billionaire Mukesh Ambani's party for son
Recommendation
From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
Trump escalates his immigration rhetoric with baseless claim about Biden trying to overthrow the US
Transgender Afghans escape Taliban persecution only to find a worse situation as refugees in Pakistan
Kristin Cavallari slams critics of her dating 24-year-old: 'They’re all up in arms'
Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
Analysis: LeBron James scoring 40,000 points will be a moment for NBA to savor
Chris Mortensen, an award-winning reporter who covered the NFL, dies at 72
The Daily Money: Consumer spending is bound to run out of steam. What then?