December 10, 2020

5 Ways to Give Back This Season

Spread cheer and generosity this holiday season with these tips.

Make the most of your gift buying.

This year has been tough on many small businesses. Show your support by choosing to buy your loved ones gifts from locally owned or small businesses in your community. It’s true that sometimes you may pay a bit more for the product, but when you shop local, your dollars stay local. Find a list of local shops here.

Deliver food and smiles.

With many seniors or at-risk people staying home, isolation can take its toll. Spread a little joy by volunteering with a local food pantry or program like Mobile Meals of La Crosse or The Hunger Task Force of La Crosse to deliver groceries or meals to the elderly or others isolating in their homes. Spread a little extra cheer by including handwritten cards or pictures from your kids to brighten their day.

Support a family in need.

It isn’t difficult to find a family in need of some holiday cheer. Providing a few bags of groceries doesn’t cost a lot but can make a big difference to a family trying to make ends meet during the holiday season.

Donate blood or plasma.

Due to the coronavirus, donations have slowed this year meaning there is a risk of shortage in hospitals. If you are healthy and able, consider donating blood with the Red Cross. Additionally, if you’ve had COVID-19, you can also donate your plasma which may contain antibodies that can attack the virus. This convalescent plasma is being evaluated as a possible treatment for people battling the virus. Learn more at the Red Cross website.

Pay it forward for front-line workers.

From doctors, nurses, and CNAs,; to grocery clerks, food deliverers, and public transportation workers; our front-line workers are keeping our community going. Say, “thank you” to the front-line workers in your life with a small gift card, baked goods, or other gesture of gratitude.

While the celebration of holidays may be different this year, we can continue to focus on the best parts of the season: kindness, generosity, and goodwill toward all. No matter your situation, there are ways to give back to your community this holiday season.