Check Your Neighborhood Facebook Group to Get Help During ChristmasFacebook has a bunch of groups that give away free things. If you do a search in the Facebook search bar look for; freecycle near me, or buy nothing near me. Depending on where you live there may even be a buy/swap group for parents to give/sell kids' clothes, toys, etc. In these types of groups, I have often found many generous people that are willing to help their neighbors in need or also give advice on where to get help locally.
Doing Good Deeds with FreecycleI have been a member of Freecycle for a long time. Freecycle is an organization that keeps usable items out of the landfill by giving them to other members. I have both given and received many items.
Donate Food ThoughtfullyI was a director of a crisis center. We were mainly a crisis center for pregnant women, but we also did food and clothing. Going to community meetings, I met with those who ran the food pantry, and discovered that we had many common issues. One was giving clients items that they needed and could actually use.
Donate Worn-Out Linens to the Animal...Animal shelters will welcome towels, sheets, blankets, pillows, and any other linens that are too worn-out to be given to someone else. Do a good deed for animals and save our planet as well.
Donate Sample Toiletries to HomelessI have an abundance of freebies and I am on a mission now to help those less unfortunate. I have some used purses as well and I am putting some of the items that I have compiled over the years and doing a handout to the homeless.
Donate to Other Thrift StoresJust a warning out there to all you good people that donate to Goodwill, thinking that you are helping the needy out. I know from firsthand experience that my local Goodwill Stores receive way more items than they can sell in their stores.
Collect Freebies for a Good CauseI belong to several companies' rewards programs and often am eligible for freebies. Sometimes I don't need or want the free items, so I donate them.
Address Labels from DonationsIf you donate to charities like the Cancer Society or the SPCA, you get packages of address labels as a thank you gift. I find you get a lot and they last a while.
Giving to the Salvation ArmyIn Canada, we have coins for $1 and $2. I start saving them in mid-November and put about $20 worth in my coat pocket at Christmas time whenever I go out. Each time I see a Salvation Army donation globe, I drop some coins in.
Link: Click to Donate Free MammogramsBe a Blessing to someone, go to www.thebreastcancersite.com and click the big Pink Box and someone gets a Free Mammogram. I have an icon on my PC and every morning when I open it up, I CLICK IT!
Donating Clothes And Household Items To CharitiesCharities should be a no-brainier, it seems everyone who reads ThriftyFun shops or has shopped at thrift stores. It makes you wonder if as many people give back to these charities.
Donate Items as You Identify ThemOne day I'll see an item in a different way than I did maybe a few months ago. What was once important, no longer is, and it feels good to let go of something; to be less attached to an object.
Link: Shop With iGive To Donate To CharitiesI found a site called iGive.com. It gives a percentage of my online purchase amounts to this charity when I shop stores through their site. These are online stores that I shop from anyway.
Donate Clothes Not Worn After A YearHang clothes backwards and rehang them forward after each use. After one year, everything still backwards can be donated.
Links: Donations to Charity without Spending a DimeDonate each day by simply clicking on the following sites.
Donate Cards to St. Jude's Recycled Card Program
This is a tip to not only help sick children learn entrepreneurship, but a chance to teach your own children and grandchildren the gift of sharing and caring, particularly here at Christmas time.
Buy Postage Stamps to Help Pet SheltersI wanted to share this with fellow pet lovers because it's for such a wonderful cause and I think this is a great thing to spread around!
Angel Food MinistriesWhat do you think about Angel Food Ministries?
Volunteer at Community Food Pantry or Thrift StoreVolunteer at your local thrift stores or food pantry. They will be appreciative of your help and you most likely will be able to choose some material items or food in exchange for your donation of time!
Donate Excess Food From Your Pantry or FreezerMy frugal self sometimes gets carried away with triple coupon offers and BOGO's. Then comes the day that I realize I have two large jars of mayonnaise, three bottles of ketchup, etc.
Give a Mending Kit With Donated ClothingDuring the Katrina aftermath, the school I worked at in Texas had quite a few refugee families move in. People often donate used clothing for these kind of events, but sometimes that clothing isn't exactly perfect.
Time for a Major DeclutterI have been having a major declutter at my house. Nothing has been spared. I figured if I hadn't looked at some of the stuff I was considering hanging onto, I didn't really need it.
Hand Out Snack Bags to the HomelessMany of us are moved to reach out to those "homeless and hungry" people by the roadside, but are reluctant to offer money because of not wanting to support drug or alcohol abuse.
Secure Donated Electronic Parts TogetherThis tip goes out to all you frugal living people who remember to give back! Donations can often be nothing more than someone looking for the use of a free dumpster, and gently used is the key.
Adopt a Family During the Holiday SeasonDuring the holiday season, adopt a family and deliver a basket of food for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. Share your good fortune with others, if possible in some way. If doesn't matter if it's big or small. Good deeds mean a lot.
Donate School Clothes to the SchoolsWith school starting I wondered if there were children in need of clothing, especially middle and high school age. A lot of kids this age would be too proud to ask for help, and embarrassed not to have new clothes. Guidance counselors at schools usually would know of those in need.
Free Samples To Benefit OthersI'm always looking for ways to contribute to the homeless or less fortunate in my area. I was requesting free samples one day when it hit me that I could use this to benefit not only myself, but others.
Donate Craft Items to Local Non-ProfitsDonate your craft items that you know you won't use to a local shelter workshop. Many shelter workshops do not have work for the clients to do on a consistent basis, yet they still need something to do while there.
Lottery For Charitable DonationsMy husband and I get a lot of calls for money over the phone. Instead of saying no or refusing to talk to these people, we ask them to send a form for their request. Then we say we'll put it in our lottery.
Helping Others ResolutionInstead of the same old New Year's Resolutions, how about something different that will make you feel good as well as helping others in need.
Donating to the Food Bank or PantryI make sure I have foodstuffs to donate to our local food pantry in the month of August and September. Most food pantries are particularly hard pressed for donations during this time frame.
Volunteer For Something You EnjoyVolunteering isn't so bad after all. Did you know that you can choose what you like to do the best? Check with your Chamber of Commerce, Hospital, the local police department, School including the local college.
A Lunch Bag for PanhandlersI don't like giving money to panhandlers but sometimes want to do something. I fixed up lunch bags with a juice box, snack mix, apple, cookies, and a candy or two.
Donate Your Old GlassesIt's the time of year to be thinking of others: Your old prescription glasses may be able to help someone else. If your local eyeglass store doesn't collect and redistribute them, contact your local Lens Crafters or Lions Club.
By Chell
