It’s a time to continue reflection of what we are thankful for in our lives and employ positive action.  International Volunteer Day is just around the corner, December 5th! There are so many charities to support and ways to donate money, it’s often hard to choose just one. Financial contributions are key to keeping great causes moving forward and making a difference but what if there was something more emotionally rewarding than simply clicking the “donate now” button. This Giving Tuesday, consider volunteerism! 

Here are 25 great ways for you to find happiness while making the world a brighter place for others.

  1. Contact a tree farm about donating Christmas trees to nursing homes, hospitals, or to families who can’t afford to buy their own
  2. Collect unused makeup and perfume to donate to a center for abused women
  3. Send cards to soldiers serving overseas
  4. Donate blood
  5. Donate your old clothes
  6. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or food bank
  7. Help organize and sort donations at a homeless shelter
  8. Make “care kits” with shampoo, toothbrushes, combs, etc. to donate to homeless shelters
  9. Organize a winter clothes drive to collect coats, hats, scarves, and gloves to be donated
  10. Clean up a local park
  11. Organize a carpool to reduce car emissions
  1. Participate in the cleanup of a local river, pond, or lake
  2. Collect pet supplies to donate to an animal shelter
  3. Sign up to foster animals that shelters don’t have space for
  4. Read to residents at a nursing home
  5. Make birthday cards for the elderly
  6. Donate and decorate a Christmas tree at a nursing home
  7. Ask residents of a retirement home to tell you about their lives
  8. Rake leaves, shovel snow, or wash windows for a senior citizen
  9. Donate stuffed animals to children in hospitals
  10. Collect baby clothes and supplies to donate to new parents in need or to a shelter
  11. Donate used children’s books to a school library
  12. Tutor children during or after school
  13. Collect used sports equipment to donate to families and after-school programs
  14. Join a youth mentoring program like Big Brothers/Big Sisters