Source: Ariel Skelley / Getty
Tis the season for family meals, holiday parties, and pumpkin spice everything!
As the days get shorter and to-do lists get longer, it can feel impossible to find time to do anything more than what's already on our plates. Yet, this is the perfect time of year to express gratitude for the things we have and give back to the community that we call home.
For all the busy parents, students, workers, and working moms out there, YWCA wants to offer a few ways to give back that don't take a lot of time. (Some can even be done from the comfort of your couch!)
- Shop online using AmazonSmile. All you have to do is visit smile.amazon.com, search for and select a nonprofit (such as YWCA Seattle King Snohomish), and shop. A portion of your eligible purchases (0.5%) will be donated to the organization you choose.
Last year, Amazon shoppers spent more than $1 billion on Cyber Monday; that's a potential $5 million in donations for nonprofits, with just a few mouse clicks.
- Empower your network with a Facebook Fundraiser. Tools on social media make it easy to support the causes that matter to you. Just got to Fundraisers, click Raise Money, pick a nonprofit (like @YWCAworks), fill out the details, and create!
You can start a fundraiser this Giving Tuesday on November 27, or any day of the year. Last year, 475,000 people used Facebook to donate $45 million on Giving Tuesday!
- Host a holiday drive to collect donations of needed items. This can include food and pantry items, warm hats and gloves, household and cleaning supplies, as well as cosmetics and feminine hygiene products. Just contact a YWCA near you to find out what's needed and details for delivery.
- Make a difference through YWCA Adopt-a-Family. Make sure a family in need has something to celebrate during the holidays by providing gift cards for kids and parents who receive services from YWCA. This is a rewarding activity that can easily be done with the whole family or your team at work.
To learn more and sign-up, visit our website.
- Volunteer with a YWCA program. For those who have more time to offer, you can serve a meal for women experiencing homelessness at Angeline's Day Center or spend a few hours maintaining the living areas at one of YWCA's housing locations.
Visit the volunteer page on our website to see open opportunities and sign-up to attend an orientation.
Giving back is guaranteed to make you feel good, so don't let a busy schedule get in your way! The key is finding an opportunity that works for your lifestyle and just go for it.
Annalee Schafranek is the Marketing & Editorial Director at YWCA. She contributes agency news, press releases, and media coverage to the website. Annalee’s educational and professional experience has always focused on the place where gender equity and media meet.
We share the stories of our program participants, programs, and staff, as well as news about the agency and what’s happening in our King and Snohomish community.
