10 Ways to Give Back as a Family During COVID-19 and the Holiday Season

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by Nikki Abad on December 10th, 2020 | No Comments »

As we live in uncertain times, we see how getting together with friends, hosting a celebration, or finding ways to give back can be a bit tricky when trying to remain safe and not put any of our loved ones at risk. Add in trying to give back and things can be even more tricky, especially when trying to practice safety and social distancing. However, this doesn’t mean we should completely skip helping others and finding ways to give back. Instead, create innovative ways to still be in touch with the family and give back to those in need.

As the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic fall heavier on some than others, supporting local charities and helping the community has never been more vital. If you're wondering how you can safely help others and give back, especially during the holidays, then be sure to check out some of these ideas to help get you started. We’ve listed a few activities that you and the entire family can do to give back and make a difference.

Simple Ways to Give Back as a Family During COVID-19 and the Holidays

With the holiday season upon us, helping those in need and finding ways to give back is important. With so much loss happening in the world today, your efforts during the holiday season can help people around the world who are struggling. So, how can your family play a part in spreading some joy and positivity during these trying times? This post shares a few ideas to help give back as a family and donate during COVID-19.

1. Make Blankets for Refugees

After watching BYUtv’s The Fixers television series, which is a high-stakes reality series where experienced builders travel around the world working tirelessly with communities to perform life-changing projects, @aprilorgill's family was inspired to do a service project for refugees. Refugees are one of the most vulnerable people in the world. Overcrowded camps make refugees more at risk for the virus. Certainly, making blankets was a good bonding experience for her family while it also served as a teaching moment for her children on the value of giving.

2. Donate Books

As many people are at home to slow the spread of COVID-19, watching television and enjoying online streaming are activities that have increased during the quarantine. Another family was inspired by The Fixers to do a service project for those in need.

As a mom, @ashleyrosereeves teaches her kids the importance of service, especially during these difficult times. Her kids picked out their old favorite books to donate to their Nepali refugee community library. Nepali refugees have a neighborhood library where kids can have access to books to take home. Her family wanted to help these kids now more than ever.

You could visit JustServe.org and find a service project, similar to Ashley's, that will help those in need that can be done within your home.

3. Be a Mentor

Have you ever considered being a mentor? You can volunteer with a community-based mentorship program like the Big Brothers of America. Due to COVID restrictions, mentorship is done through emails or virtual meetings. You can also impart practical activities like learning new hobbies. Whether you're a volunteer reader, tutor, or mentor, there are plenty of organizations that are in need of fellow volunteers and community partners.

4. Create Something New

Allow the creativity in you to bloom with your little helpers—your children. Do your children have old clothes? Transform them into new things like masks, a necessity nowadays, and donate them to homeless people. This activity will also teach children the importance of humanity and compassion.

5. Make Donations

There are plenty of ways to offer donations, so be sure to think outside the box. You can donate money, clothing, food, computers for children who are doing virtual learning, equipment, and supplies. Be sure to take a look around your home and put unused items to good use by giving them to those in need.

6. Comfort Animals

Let's not forget about the animals that are in need during these trying times. As a family, help your community animal shelter by making food and treats for the animals. You could also donate beds to shelters animals or drop off blankets for the animals. Be sure to contact the facility first and get approval.

7. Offer DIY Services

If you're a DIYer, then you can hop on JustServe.org and find an organization that needs hands-on work. Another family watched BYUtv’s The Fixers television series and was motivated to visit a local farm and help build a fence for the horses at Whispering Canyons. Whispering Canyons is a non-profit organization aimed to give underprivileged and at-risk teen girls the chance to enhance and change their lives through equestrian training and therapy.

8. Make a Wish Come True

You can help make a wish come true by contacted the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As a family, you can assist in fulfilling the wish of a child with a critical and/or life-threatening disease.

9. Serve a Home-Cooked Meal

Probably the most overworked people as of this moment are the healthcare professionals. They allocate a lot of their time to serve and help others and sometimes neglect their own needs. A way of showing appreciation for your healthcare professionals in your community is to make them a home-cooked meal. Nothing beats a home-cooked meal, especially when worn out and exhausted. Remember to be mindful of COVID-19 rules and regulations when it comes to food safety and delivery.

10. Partner With Brands on Social Media

There are plenty of brands looking to partner with people and give back during the pandemic, especially as the holiday season approaches. For example, "McDonald’s is kicking off an end-of-year campaign to help Ronald McDonald House Charities. The company is urging people to make the “RMHC heart” symbol using their hands—index fingers and thumb shaped like a heart while the middle and index fingers touch above it at an angle like the roof of a house while one pinky is up as the “chimney”—and post a photo or video on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, or Facebook using the hashtag #HereForRMHC. The company will donate $100 in the name of every person who posts something using the hashtag." [source] You can participate and continue to look for other companies doing social media-related giving back activities.

When it comes to helping those in need during COVID-19 and the holiday season, the possibilities are endless. You just need to think a little outside the box to help you, your family, and those you are helping to stay safe and healthy. No matter what your situation is, you can make a difference. Just remember to spread the holiday spirit safely.