5 ways to UPlift your community during the holiday season
You know what they say: ‘tis the season to spread some holiday cheer!’ And let’s be honest, we could all use a little help around the holidays — especially this year.
As the second wave of COVID-19 approaches with the holiday season following quickly behind, everyone is trying to stay in good spirits. During this time of year, it’s always important to show compassion for others. And while the second wave is also making it more challenging for people to go out and do the things they might normally do to help others, it’s refreshing to think about how we can work outside of the box (or bubble, if you will) to spread happiness and be there for each other (even if it’s virtually).
For anyone trying to safely spread joy and stay positive over these unusual times, here are 5 things you can do to UPlift your community during the holiday season.
Host a holiday food drive
Did you know that in Nova Scotia, food insecurity affects 11.6% of households? And unfortunately, this frightening statistic only increases over the holiday season. The idea of organizing a local food drive isn’t new — but can be a very impactful and relatively easy thing to organize. It’s also a great way to get support for your community with little contact. To organize yours, have members of your community leave any non-perishable food items or needed supplies on their front porch on a specific date. From there, you can contactlessly collect them and drop the items off at Feed Nova Scotia.
Secret Santa 2.0
Every year, friends and family take part in Secret Santa as an easy way to meet up and exchange gifts. Sadly, with this year’s restrictions, meeting up with friends and going out isn’t a good idea. However, you can still keep the spirit alive! Instead of scrapping the idea, why not take the money that you and your friends were going to use for gifts and donate to a charity of your choice? Whether it’s a local COVID foundation, Feed Nova Scotia or simply one that’s near and dear to your heart, there are countless places that appreciate donations of any size. Doing this is a great way to still be connected with your friends, give back and spread the holiday spirit!
Shop ‘til you drop… locally
This year, shopping online is key to help to stop the spread of COVID-19. BUT, that doesn’t mean we can’t still support local. Many local businesses have done a great job pivoting their brick and mortars to online shops. Instead of using Amazon, try looking into a local business that sells the same item. Most of them offer reasonable shipping or contactless pickup options, and you know that they appreciate it so much more than Jeff Bezos does. Shopping local also gives you the chance to find very unique items that you probably wouldn't expect. Not only will you get your holiday shopping done, but you'll also be supporting your local community.
Mask up for a cause
Something we don’t really think about is the number of masks needed at this time. Disposable masks are pretty expensive and in high demand but are also terrible for the environment. And with so many creative people making masks — why not consider supporting them by purchasing some to donate? There are a handful of not-for-profit organizations looking for masks, and by supporting them, you’re also supporting the safety of our community.
Spend some time cleaning out your closet
Starting the year off fresh is something we all aspire to but many of us don’t have the time to actually do. While we’re “staying the blazes home” during this second wave, you may find yourself with a little extra free time. A great way to give back without spending any money is going through your old clothes, toys and household items, sanitizing or washing them and donating them to a local charity. You’ll be able to take pride in your organized house while knowing that you gave back — and that, friends, is what we like to call a win/win!
Like you, we love spreading holiday cheer during the holidays! We know there are so many other great ways to give back and would love to hear your ideas! Use the comment function below to let us know and we’d be happy to share them on our social channels (@upyourpr)!
