How To Act Local & Give Back To Your Community This Season
September 7, 2022 9:48 amIt may be hard to believe given the temperature lately, but whether we want to admit it or not the winter and associated holidays are right around the corner. In fact, some of you may have already started planning and shopping for friends and family members’ gifts, entertaining items, and decor.
Before the calendar gets turned to yet another fall month, let’s take a moment to recognize the value of shopping locally and patronizing small businesses in our region to help boost our local economy. Additionally, it’s important to volunteer if possible and donate to help families and businesses that are facing challenges. There are several ways to do this. Let’s review some of the ways you can help support your community this season.
Give Your Time
One of the most worthwhile and effective ways to help support your community is to volunteer your time. Volunteer in a food pantry, soup kitchen, nonprofit, homeless shelter, schools, and local charities. An extra set of hands can make the work easier for full-time staff to get through the holidays, often their busiest time of the year.
Many businesses offer employees an “Annual Day of Service” one day a year to volunteer for a charity of their choosing. Others recommend regularly volunteering to truly understand the depth of the need, or to feel connected to the organization.
Sadly, not everyone has time in their busy lives to volunteer. The next two options may be more your speed if you already have too much on your to-do list as it is.
Donate
If you are short on time given your lifestyle, work obligations, or family commitments, donating is also an appropriate way to give back to your local community.
We suggest researching local organizations where you can donate financially or in other ways such as toys for children in need this holiday season.
There are a copious amount of holiday programs in Essex County Massachusetts. Here are just a few to get you started.
- Salvation Army assistance in Essex County helps with financial aid for heating bills as well as assistance at Christmas for low-income families. Programs include the Santa fund, meals or toys from Adopt-a-family, and Angel Tree for Essex County families.
- Toys For Tots of Essex County collected toys, games, winter boots, and other items for children and families in need this season.
- Action Inc. located at 180 Main Street, Gloucester, Massachusetts allows singles or families in the Greater Cape Ann area to apply for holiday clothing or Christmas toys, such as books, games, and more.
- Essex County Catholic Charities offers a number of assistance programs For various holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, food programs are offered. There are also options to receive free groceries and baskets of food. In some cases, toys, gift certificates, books, laptops, or other goods may be offered. More on assistance from Essex County Catholic Charities.
Shop Locally
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is known as Small Business Saturday. While this idea encourages holiday shoppers to patronize their local small businesses, it is something that should happen all year long.
The Shop Small movement reminds us all that there are prime shopping opportunities right in our own communities.
Categorised in: north shore community