How to Give Back This Holiday Season

Do good and feel good this holiday season by giving back to the community and people in need. From bringing joy to the isolated and vulnerable people to supporting local businesses, we’ve put together a list to get your started.

Food Bank Donations with Genesis Land

Next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up an extra bag of non-perishable food items and help Genesis Land with their show home food bank initiative. Every Genesis Land show home – including ours – have a food donation bin outside to collect food for the Calgary Food Bank and the Airdrie Food Bank. You don’t have to go into the show home, just place the food in the bin outside. Visit their website for show home locations.

Support Small Businesses

Do you part in supporting the Calgary and Airdrie community by purchasing your gifts, food and other holiday needs from small businesses. Amazon doesn’t need your dollars nearly as much as the locally owned, family run businesses that are right outside your door. There are great gift guides available to help you get started in finding unique gifts that help support the people in our city. Support local farmers and grocers by buying your turkey from a local farm, order in takeout from your favourite restaurants and buy your alcohol from locally sourced businesses.

Buy and Deliver Groceries

Whether it’s your grandparents or your next door neighbour that can’t leave their house, help them out by buying and/or delivering their groceries to them. We’ve been practicing throughout the pandemic, but keep it up! Groceries, errands, medication, dog walking – there are so many little things that can become a health risk to the vulnerable population.

Volunteer Your Time

Even if you don’t have the resources to give money or buy extra things this holiday season, giving your time costs nothing but can make a huge impact on people in need. There are a ton of different volunteer opportunities within Calgary and Airdrie with resources to connect you with them. Remote volunteering or micro-volunteering are a great way to stay home but still help those in need. A few great options that you can do and enlist the help of your family:

• Create written and recorded joy messages for vulnerable people in isolation. Joy 4 All Project is a youth led organization that is helping people feel less lonely during quarantine. Click here for more information.
• If you feel comfortable leaving your house, the Mustard Seed is always looking for meal service volunteers. They have reduced the capacity of volunteers to ensure proper safety for everyone, but there are still openings this month. Click here to learn more.

Become a Secret Santa

Seniors often feel isolated during the holidays and especially now with the current restrictions, Seniors Secret Service lets you be a Secret Santa to make a senior’s holiday season a little bit merrier. Since 1985, they have been working relentlessly to bring cheer to isolated seniors in our community in Calgary and surrounding areas. Even if you don’t sponsor a senior directly, they are still looking for last minute gifts. Visit their website for ways you can help.

Support the Homeless

The Mustard Seed works tirelessly all year to help provide a safe and warm place for the homeless to go. This Christmas, share the gift of a meal and life-transforming hope with your neighbours who are experiencing poverty and homelessness. Donations help provide holiday meals to guests at The Mustard Seed along with other essential services, like warm clothing and clean facilities during the cold winter months. Visit their website to make a donation.

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