88

As Christmas approaches, our minds turn to giving and, inevitably, shopping. But the greatest gifts of all are our time, skills and compassion. Genevieve Gannon looks at how to feel and spread cheer this Christmas.

spread cheer far and wide this festive season with ideas to help you give back

Give back together

When Sydney boy Leo Heath first started volunteering at nursing homes, he found it a little daunting, but he quickly discovered that giving back has unexpected rewards. “Every time I’m about to go into one of the rooms, I feel embarrassed because I know I won’t have many people that I know there, but then I go in there and make friends,” says the plucky seven year old.

Leo and his brother Jude, 11, are shining examples of how people of all ages can spread the spirit of Christmas. Since becoming volunteers two years ago they have sorted clothes, cooked meals and visited nursing homes, always as a family.

“My favourite was probably visiting the old people,” says Jude. “Socialising with complete strangers can boost your positivity and you can make friends easier.” The family volunteering was their mother Licia’s idea. “I was grappling with how you can demonstrate to your kids, without it being too overt, about the life they enjoy and the privilege they enjoy, and that not necessarily everybody has the same life,” Licia says.

The Heaths volunteer through an organisation called Kids Giving Back. It’s based in NSW but most local and state government websites have volunteer pages to help families find child-friendly volunteering opportunities.