This post was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
I love being able to give back to my community, especially during the holiday season. It is a great time to remember to help those who aren’t as fortunate. Being on a tight budget hasn’t stopped me from giving back throughout the year.
I know that cash is usually the preferred way charities want you to give back because they know where the most need is but sometimes you can’t always give money. If you are on a tight budget, you may feel like you can’t give a lot but you can help in other ways.
I put together a list of some of my favorite ways to give back to those in need throughout the year. I hope this will inspire you to make a difference in your community, even when money is tight.
Couponing to Help Others
One of the ways I can really stretch my budget is by using coupons. I am able to get a lot of items for free when I match sales and coupons. Once I started couponing I found that I had more shampoo, toothpaste, and food than my family actually needed.
Every couple of months I like to take the extra toiletries and food to women’s shelters and food banks. I also use coupons to get cheap diapers and baby items because they are always in need of those things.
Even though I don’t have a cat, I still stock up on cat food and other pet products that I can get for really cheap and donate them to an animal shelter.
Donate your Time
I like helping at soup kitchens and Habitat for Humanity. It’s a great way to actually get outside and get involved with your community. You see the impact you are having in someone’s life and that is priceless.
Next year, when my daughter is a little older, I am going to get her involved. I think she will enjoy baking cookies and treats to take to assisted living homes. A lot of people just need someone to talk to and spend some time with to really brighten their day. It’s important to spend time with our seniors.
Share a Photo
It really doesn’t get much easier to give back than by using the free Donate a Photo app*. For every photo you share, Johnson & Johnson will donate $1 to one of its trusted non-profit partners, chosen by you. You can share to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to help spread the word and inspire others to donate, too.
*Johnson & Johnson has curated a list of trusted causes, and you can donate a photo to one cause, once a day. Each cause will appear in the app until it reaches its goal, or the donation period ends. If the goal isn’t reached, the cause will still get a minimum donation.
You can share one photo every day. You can help to support Save the Children by using the photo app or you can purchase a gift from the Save the Children “Gifts of Joy” holiday catalog. For every gift purchased, Johnson & Johnson will match each donation (up to $450,000), building on a three-year $10 million commitment.
Donate What you Have
We all have old coats and blankets that we no longer need but are still in good condition. I will take our old clothes and toys to Goodwill. I like taking our old coats to a homeless shelter instead. I also do this with any blankets, hats, gloves, etc. that we are no longer using but are still in good shape.
If I have old blankets that may have a hole, I take these to the animal shelter. They always need old blankets for the dogs to curl up in.
Toy Drives
A great way to get the kids involved is to participate in a toy drive. You can find so many good deals on toys during the holidays so this doesn’t have to get expensive. We will take a couple of toys to a toy drive every year. I let my daughter pick them out and it really teaches her about giving back at a young age.
I also like participating in the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. It’s a way to give kids items that they need as well as toys. I like to put in some toiletries, socks, etc. in addition to a couple of small toys. I really don’t spend more than $10 on a box but I fill it full of fun things I think the kids might like.
These are just a few of the ways I like to give back throughout the year. You can make a big difference in your community and to those in need without donating a bunch of money. Anyone can make an impact. What are some ways you give back?
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