You will find there are two types of people when it comes to holiday shopping – the Traditionalist and the Techy. The Traditionalist lives for Black Friday, and may even sneak out of Thanksgiving dinner a few hours early to snag a great deal. The Techy makes it through the turkey coma and is ready to catch the best online deals come Cyber Monday. While it’s easy to succumb to all of the gifts and bargains during the holidays, an important part of the holiday season is charitable giving. And whether you’re a Traditionalist, a Techy, or both, we have seven easy ways to give during the holidays that match your shopping habits.
Food Drive:
- Traditionalist: Donate nonperishable items to a food pantry like LifeNet for Families, Pantry of Broward or Feeding South Florida. Often times food drives get associated with Thanksgiving and there becomes a shortage of food come the holidays.
- Techy: Go beyond a traditional food drive and launch your own Virtual Food Drive through websites like Feeding America.
Make a Charitable Donation:
- Traditionalist: Consider having your family make a donation to your favorite charity as a gift. Friends and family can go directly to a charity and make a gift on your behalf.
- Techy: Order a Tisbest Giftcard. Gift givers can purchase charity gift cards online to spend at any of your favorite nonprofits.
Support our Troops:
- Traditionalist: Team up this holiday with the American Red Cross’ Holiday Mail for Heroes and send our troops a holiday card.
- Techy: Visit Booksforsoldiers.com to review book requests posted from soldiers and pick someone whose request has not yet been filled.
Save your change
- Traditionalist: Consider skipping your favorite coffee shop and drop off the change in the Salvation Army Red Kettle.
- Techy: Don’t have a Salvation Army Red Kettle near by? You can also donate to the Red Kettle online.
Adopt a family:
- Traditionalist: Work with a charity to find a family to help. Jack & Jill Children’s Center, Women in Distress, or Ann Stork Center all have family adoption programs.
- Techy: Neighbors for Neighbors’ Adopt a Family program allows you to donate online to Operation Gift Card Drive.
Purchase holiday cards that give back
- Traditionalist: If you’re planning on sending holiday cards, purchase cards that give back to a charity. Unicef offers a variety of holiday cards.
- Techy: If e-cards are more your speed, check out St. Jude’s holiday e-cards.
Donate a toy:
- Traditionalist: Contact a charity or hospital that serves children like Kids in Distress, Heart Gallery of Broward or Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
- Techy: Neighbors for Neighbors’ Adopt a Family online program allows you to donate online to Operation Elf Toy Drive which will purchase a toy for a child.
So while you’re shopping this holiday season, remember that the gift of giving is the greatest gift of all.
To see the Go Riverwalk Magazine article, click here. Pages 46-46
