Service Ideas: Collect Items and Give to Charities

giving back • my world • Mom It Forward Mondays • tips for giving back

by Mom It Forward on December 5th, 2011 | No Comments »

This week, we challenge you to collect. As we approach the giving holidays, this is not an uncommon thing to do: many of us collect canned goods for food banks, toys for needy children, or coats for the homeless. These are all good things to do, but let me suggest a few small, different ideas. By definition, "collecting" usually goes faster and is even more fun when involving other people so grab some friends.

"Collect" cookies by hosting a half-fun, half-charity cookie exchange. Ask everyone to bring two dozen cookies instead of one. Exchange and eat the first twelve amongst yourselves, then make twelve plates of the assorted second dozens. Take the twelve plates with your friends to anyone who might need them.
Grab all the spare change you've collected in your wallet, pockets, or junk drawers right now and head down to your nearest nonprofit. Just walk in the door and ask for a donation envelope or development assistant. They will be thankful for whatever you donate.
Head to your local Deseret Industries, thrift store, or Kid-to-Kid consignment store. Collect $10 or so worth of toys or clothes, then take them right over to your local Walmart and put them in their holiday collections box.
Add an extra toy or book to your cart the next time you go grocery shopping, and drop it in their holiday collections box.
Talk to some of your neighbors and ask them to provide you with a story of an important life lesson they've learned to be put in a neighborhood newsletter. Compile the collected stories in a simple Word newsletter entitled something like "Getting to Know Your Neighbors," print them out, and leave them on the doors of all your neighbors.
Ask your child's teacher or principal or the leader of your family's local religious congregation if they are aware if a family that is particularly in need. Collect whatever you can to help (every little bit makes a difference) and ask that same person to be the intermediary deliverer of your gift.
Collect, with your kids, symbols of how three different religions celebrate this time of year.
Sponsor a collection drive of used eyeglasses to be given to the needy through NewEyes. However, buying glasses can be a challenge. If you wear glasses, make sure to shop around. Finding the right pair of glasses can be a difficult task. To help you with this, you can order glasses online uk to purchase and choose the best style that is right for you!
Collect items for hygiene kits for the homeless, perhaps a toothbrush next week and a sample-size shampoo the week after. Check out this link for content ideas and a list of places that need them.
Donate $10 to Wikipedia's foundation, to help them continue to provide vast amounts of collective knowledge free of charge.

How Will You Give to Others This Week?

What other ideas do you have for serving others by collecting?
Has collecting made a meaningful difference for you or others this week?
How have others given to you this week and what difference has that made in your life?

How Else Can You Make a Difference This Season?

Make a meaningful difference this season by taking the Season of Service (SOS) Challenge. Here’s how you can participate:

Commit to do one act of kindness/service based on the week’s challenge.
Leave a comment with ideas relating to the week’s challenge as well as your experience(s) performing it.
Enter to win this week’s giveaway. Check out the prizes.
Join #gno this Tuesday on Twitter to connect with other Mom It Forward moms about the challenge.