8 ways to help during holidays
Nonprofit leaders have ideas on how you can support the community.
The holiday season always seems to inspire people to spread goodwill on earth.
But where to start? Central Florida is a low-wage community full of needs. Kids who need mentors. Working families struggling to make ends meet. Soldiers who need assistance. Even abandoned pets looking for someone to literally keep them alive.
Each year, I reach out to nonprofit leaders in this community for suggestions on how readers can make a difference in ways big and small.
The goal is to make giving easy and accessible. Here are eight ways to make lasting impacts:
Give small. We're talking really small. Maybe you don't think twice about having an extra bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse or Clorox wipes around the house. Well, an organization like Shepherd's Hope — Florida's largest charitable free health clinic, staffed completely by volunteer doctors — needs lots of both to keep its clinics free of viruses and to give to patients when they leave. CEO Marni Stahlman says this simple donation (which can be dropped off at any of the nonprofit's five locations in Orange and Seminole counties) “is an immediate way” to keep the uninsured healthy and the clinic clean. More info at Shepherdshope.org.
Give big — to struggling veterans. Not every war wound is easily visible. Thousands of service members return from wars abroad with mental health issues and post traumatic stress disorder that can make everyday life a struggle. The holidays can compound that psychological burden. Orlando's Camaraderie Founda-
tion provides services to vets immediately and without red tape. But there's a cost — about $2,000 to provide counseling services for each service member. And as of this week, there were 104 local vets on the Foundation's waiting list. More info at camaraderiefoundation.org
Give your time. Lots of local nonprofits make volunteering easy. Orlando's United Against Poverty serves the working poor with cheap groceries, job-training and housing assistance. And the need is so great that UP has room for 45 volunteers every single day. (That's more than 16,000 volunteer shifts a year.) Plus, there are opportunities for families and groups to volunteer together. More info at uporlando.org.
Give bags of help. Many people are uncomfortable giving cash to strangers on the street. One option is to be prepared with “help bags.” My wife stuffs oversized Ziploc bags with granola bars, bottled water, fresh socks, deodorant and more. You can keep them handy in your car. It's a way of responding to a request for help — and letting those who live on the streets know you thought about their plight before they even asked.
Give to our four-legged friends. Animals have needs, too. So do pet owners — especially elderly ones who rely on animals for companionship but have limited resources. The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando is holding a “Restock the Pantry” event, collecting dog and cat food to share with people and animals in need. The Alliance has drop-off locations in Orlando (2727 Conroy Road) and Sanford (2800 County Home Road). More info at petallianceorlando.org — where you can also purchase food donations online.
Give a toy. Ring a bell. Come visit me. You can help the Salvation Army of Orlando by doing any of those things. The Army — which feeds the hungry and helps those struggling with addiction — needs volunteers to ring bells alongside their signature red kettles. They also conduct a toy drive, which needs both toys and volunteers to help organize them. That's where my office comes in. After the fine folks at WKMG encourage viewers to donate, the Army and its volunteers spread a sea of toys on the first floor of the Orlando Sentinel building. There are mountains of dolls, rows of bikes, sports supplies and more. It's a heartwarming sight — toys as far as the eye can see, all donated by Central Floridians who just want needy kids to have a Merry Christmas. For more info, call the Salvation Army at 407-423-8581 or visit salvationarmyorlando.org/ christmas-volunteer-programs/
Make a long-term commitment. The holidays are a great time to help. But assistance is needed all year ‘round. The Boys and Girls Club (bgccf.org) needs mentors and role models for kids who lack them. So does Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida (bbbscfl.org). The Coalition for the Homeless (centralfloridahomeless.org) schedules volunteers months in advance. So does Second Harvest Food Bank (feedhopenow.org). And every group appreciates sustained giving — monthly pledges, whether $50 or $500 — to help them budget accordingly.
Look your neighbors in the eye. Here's something that won't cost you a dime. If you see someone looking forlorn, acknowledge them. Maybe say hello. That's it. Sure, our natural inclination might be to avert our eyes. But IDignity director Michael Dippy said: “In my opinion, one the greatest impacts is to provide the recognition that these individuals exist and are fellow members of your society. A simple acknowledgement through a greeting can be remarkably impactful to those feeling alienated and unwelcome.”
Happy holidays and Merry Christmas.