If there’s one time of year when volunteer organizations have plenty of help, it’s definitely the holidays. The giving spirit of the season is magical, but you could miss a chance to volunteer for your favorite organization if their volunteer slots fill up quickly. But if you think a bit outside the box, there are so many ways to spread kindness during the holidays and beyond.

Here are a few creative ways to do good either on your own or with friends and family.

Support a family in need.

The holidays can be an expensive, stressful time for some, so one of the greatest acts of kindness you can do is make life easier for those who need it most. You can support your local families by:

• Adopting a family in your community and providing gifts for a child in need through our holiday assistance programs.
• Donating grocery store gift cards to the Food Pantry to help families have a hot meal this holiday season.

Brighten the days of the homebound.

Those who cannot easily leave their homes may face emotional and logistical challenges throughout the busy holidays. Make homebound members of your community feel supported and ease some of their burdens by:

• Delivering home-cooked meals or baked goods to your senior neighbors.
• Providing a friendly visit for a senior in need through our Care Links program.

Start a new volunteering tradition.

As the new year approaches, make a resolution to maintain the giving spirit in your community. The need for volunteers does not go away after the holidays, but interest in volunteering drops significantly in the new year. By continuing to support those in need year-round, you can create true positive change. Extend the goodness of the holidays into the rest of the year by:

• Routinely check in to find out what opportunities are available at CAPTAIN CHS.
• Fostering a culture of altruism by suggesting ways for coworkers to volunteer individually or in groups.