GIVING BACK THIS CHRISTMAS

There are many wonderful ways to give back during the holiday season, but we thought we’d make it easy for you and list a few of our favourite ways to give back.

Donate to a charitable organisation
Christmas is a time for giving, and what better way to give back than to a charity. Even by giving small, you can make a big difference. There are so many different organisations to give back to, it can be a bit overwhelming. You could start by choosing a cause you might have a personal connection to, or care about most. Many organisations run Christmas appeal programs, such as The Smith Family and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. You can see a list of other non-for-profit organisations on Australian’s Charity Guide and Probono Australia.

Volunteer Your Services
There are many ways in which you can volunteer some of your time this Christmas. The most popular way is to volunteer at a local Soup Kitchen for the Homeless, which you can find via Google. The Smith Family also run a fantastic Christmas Volunteering Program where you can help with Christmas gift preparation, delivery day venue support and preparing donated goods.

Foster A Pet
If you’re already thinking of buying a pet this Christmas, why not adopt one instead, if you’re not already? Help an animal in need and support animal shelters by giving them a loving home! Give Now has an amazing list of animal shelters and adoption programs for each state in Australia. From cats and dogs, to horses and guinea pigs - they’ve got you covered!

Give Blood
The most valuable gift of all, is the gift of life. One blood donation could be used to help up to three people. Visit the Australian Red Cross website to see if you’re eligible to donate and how to register. Only one in 30 of us will give blood, but one in three of us sooner or later will need it.

Visit Hospital Patients
Cheer up someones day and lift their spirits by visiting patients in a Hospital. The Chrildren’s Hospital in Brisbane runs an amazing Volunteering Program for everyone to get involved in as well as the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne. You can also look up your local hospital if they run any Volunteering programs or allow group visitors.

Friendly Visiting Program
The last thing you would want on Christmas, is for someone to feel alone. Volunteer for the Friendly Visiting Program to provide social support and companionship for older people with disabilities who live in their own homes and are experiencing social isolation.

What are your favourite ways to give back during this time of year?

Image via The Sweet Occasion