Five Rewarding Ways to Give Back this Season - Money Tip Tuesday

The holidays are a time of celebration, joy and generosity. This season of giving, take some time to participate in the many charitable activities available to you to bring a little light to someone’s life.  

Links: 

• Check out the American Red Cross to learn more about donating blood
• Explore this list of non-profit organizations that could use donations or volunteer support: 
  • The Salvation Army
  • Make-A-Wish Foundation
  • The Front Door Agency
  • Nashua Soup Kitchen, Sonshine Soup Kitchen (Derry), 
  • New Hampshire Homeless Shelters and Food Pantry Directory 
  • Directory of New Hampshire Humane Societies and Animal Shelters
  • Boys & Girls Club
  • Meals on Wheels
  • Harbor Homes (Now Harbor Care)
• Follow our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages!
• Learn more about Triangle Credit Union

Transcript:

Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast. 

Giving to others is a rewarding experience that teaches important lessons about generosity and self-sacrifice. Some can cost you money; others are entirely free. However you decide to give back this season, charitable giving is a rewarding and contagious act that can spread joy throughout the community and change people’s lives.  

If you’re feeling in the holiday spirit and looking for a few ways to give back to your community, here are some ideas you might find helpful.  

You can always donate money to organizations that need those funds to operate. Almost any organization you research could use financial help. They use this money to buy supplies, pay staff and raise awareness for their cause. Many organizations run holiday fundraisers where you can meet people, win prizes and learn more about what they do for the community. You can donate money online through website portals or donate in person when you see a display or presentation. For example, the Salvation Army sets up the Red Kettle fundraiser every year to ask for donations.  

Donating money is a great way to help outreach organizations, but there are other ways to pitch in and contribute to individuals and families struggling for everyday items. You can donate clothing, hygiene items and other necessities to organizations like homeless shelters or children’s homes. Winter is one of the most critical seasons for clothing and the most requested items are usually new underwear and socks, warm weather clothing like jackets or sweatshirts, and shoes. Clothing items aren’t the only things needed. Many homeless shelters ask for donations of personal hygiene products, bedding, toys and baby clothes to offer to families with children and other people in need of these items.  

If you don’t have the money or extra funds to buy physical necessities, you can still donate to people in need. This idea might make some a little squeamish, but you can donate your blood to a blood bank, most notably the Red Cross. According to redcross.org, somebody needs blood or platelets every 2 seconds. Blood donations provide lifesaving help to people struggling with a wide variety of illnesses and physical ailments. Many individuals fighting cancer, people who need lifesaving surgeries, accident and burn victims all need blood and benefit from blood donors. You may also want to know that one single blood donation can help multiple people. One visit to a blood drive could make the world of a difference to 2 or 3 people in need. For more information on how to donate visit www.redcrossblood.org. 

The last way to help others this season is by donating your time by volunteering with a local organization. This can be one of the most rewarding experiences for any age. Studies show it increases dopamine which improves your mood. It also lowers stress and anxiety and can contribute to an overall feeling of well-being and purpose.  You also get the opportunity to meet new people and learn more about their lives. It’s rewarding, fun and a great way to touch the lives of people around you.  You can help distribute food with Meals on Wheels or try bell ringing with the Salvation Army. 

Giving back is a rewarding, positive experience for all parties involved and can spread a lot of positivity and goodwill throughout the community.  

If you’re interested in getting involved, here are a few organizations you could consider working with: Salvation Army, Make-A-Wish foundation, the Front Door Agency, the Soup Kitchen, Homeless shelters, your local humane society, Boys and Girls Clubs, Meals on Wheels and Harbor Homes.  

There is a vast amount of need all around us. People need assistance and it’s important we show others they matter and that they aren’t forgotten. Many hands make light work and it’s a big help when we can assist those who dedicate their lives to helping others. It improves our environment and brightens our community. 

If there are any other tips or topics, you’d like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org.  Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.  

Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday and be sure to check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.  

Have a great day!