You don't have to go far to find needy people in our community. Here's how you can help!
Of course, people fall upon hard times every day of the year -- not just during the holidays. But whether you're able to pitch in now or sometime down the road, Denver has some amazing charities dedicated to helping the needy. Here's how you can be a part of the solution!
Give Food or Money!
Food pantries are in dire need of food for distribution and always welcome canned good donations. Because of the natural disasters the country has experienced, Colorado's food banks are running a little scant right now and need your help!
- Clean out your own pantry of any unused canned food and take the cans to a local food bank. Find your nearest food pantry here.
- Consider hosting a food drive for your office or school.
- Donate toward The Denver Rescue Mission's Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, which has a goal of collecting 15,000 frozen turkeys by November 22. They hope to assemble at least 3,000 Thanksgiving Banquet-in-a-Box food boxes to be distributed to needy families in the community. They will also serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal to the people they host at their three residential centers. Learn more about how you can donate turkeys and other goods for their Thanksgiving boxes here.
- Catholic Charities is also collecting frozen turkeys and monetary donations, with the goal of helping 4,000 families this holiday season.
- Host a virtual food drive. Did you know that regular canned food drives are actually not the best use of your resources and time? A virtual food drive allows people to donate money to the food bank online. This is better because organizations like Food Bank of the Rockies are able to purchase food in bulk at wholesale costs, so a $10 donation goes a lot further than the $10 of canned goods you'd collect from your grocery store.
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Image courtesy of Food Bank of the Rockies[/caption]
Give Your Time!
One of my clearest childhood memories is accompanying my mom and dad to deliver a turkey and Thanksgiving basket to a family that had fallen on hard times. Now, as an adult, I'm always on the lookout for opportunities for my own family to put others' needs before our own. Here are just a few suggestions of ways to do that!
- The Denver Rescue Mission needs volunteers for their "Turkey Toss," Nov. 15–22, to collect turkeys from generous donors. Sign up here.
- Serve a meal at one of the many soup kitchens in the area. Grant Street Reach is a great place to do this.
- Deliver meals to needy seniors through Meals on Wheels.
- Deliver a "Basket of Joy" holiday fruit basket to low-income seniors in the metro area through Volunteers of America. The delivery date will be Saturday, December 9.
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Give Gifts!
No matter what a family is going through, no child should have to wake up on Christmas morning without a present to open. Here are some amazing programs that are collecting toys for needy children.
- Donate toys to children through Toys for Tots to ensure every kiddo gets a present!
- Another organization that collects toys for children is Denver Santa Claus Shop. Donate a toy, or host a larger toy drive event! Find out more here.
- The Denver Children's Home has a variety of donation needs for the kids they service. Find out more here.
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There are so many more opportunities to give and volunteer in Colorado this holiday season -- and year-round! For more ideas, check out this
database of organizations putting together food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas (search by zip code), or check out
this website to find the perfect volunteer opportunity that best suits your personality, talents, and location!
What are some other ways you give back to the community during the holiday season? What other amazing organizations do we need to know about? Please leave a comment below!
