4 New Ways to Make a Difference this Giving Season

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4 New Ways to Make a Difference this Giving Season

By Shelley Levitt

Holiday season (aka The Giving Season) is here! Which means you’re probably counting all the ways you’re #blessed. Like the comfy leather leggings you’ll be wearing on the flight home. Finally (kinda) mastering Crow in yoga. And the big stuff like family, friends, health & happiness.

It’s enough to inspire anyone to want to give back. And you totally should! Don’t know how? Nbd. We’ve got a few ideas on how you can make a positive impact this season (or any time of year, really):

Clean Up Your Act

Real talk -- tons of people volunteer on the major holidays. But most of them are hitting up seasonal sales the next day. Sign up for the less glamorous shifts & help with post-holiday clean up. And if the mood strikes you, go for some non-holiday shifts, too. People can use help all year!

Make a positive impact this season!

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Ugly
Fact: about 1/3 of all fresh produce is wasted because it’s deemed not pretty enough to eat. That’s enough to feed 2 billion people. So before you feast, join the #uglyfruitandveg campaign. It helps get “undesirable” looking but still delicious food to people in need.

Check out groups like Food Recovery Network, Community Plates & Wasted Food for ways you can rescue food from supermarkets, farmers markets & restaurants.

Take It Off (Your Coat, That Is)
As you make room in your closet for that new parka or trench, pull out last season’s coat & drop it off at the closest spot that’s collecting coats for families in need. Can’t find a nearby coat drive? One Warm Coat can help you organize one yourself. And we promise, it’s super easy. 

1/3 of all fresh produce is wasted because it’s deemed not pretty enough to eat.

Embrace A More Is Merrier Vibe
In the spirit of the season, invite an orphan to spend the holiday with your fam. Social services agencies can help you connect with people new to the US. Or, host a couple college kids who can’t make it home.