By Caitlyn McGregor, Contributing Writer
The holiday season is a time of joy and giving, and college students can make a significant impact through their charitable efforts. There are various ways college students can get involved in charity work during the holidays to help those in need.
One option is volunteering at local non-profit organizations, such as soup kitchens or homeless shelters. Any little thing can help, even giving parents time to do holiday shopping or time to work permits.
Justiss Sloan, a freshman majoring in criminal justice, says, “Over the holidays, I participate in a gingerbread house workshop. This is a completely voluntary community event. As a volunteer I help prepare for the event. On the day of the event we watch the kids for two hours, giving parents time to go Christmas shopping and do other things that they need to do.”
Students can volunteer at places like this to give hard-working parents some time to get essential things done like shopping or working. Students can also collaborate with classmates to create care packages filled with necessary items such as warm clothes, hygiene essentials, and food supplies for those in need. Such care packages can then be distributed to homeless individuals or families struggling to make ends meet. Donating items they no longer need, like clothing, books, or household items, is another way for college students to contribute to charities.
Not all college students have the means to donate or buy things for organizations, so there is always another solution: volunteering. By offering a helping hand, college students can serve meals, distribute warm clothing, or assist with organizing activities for children. Doing these things hands-on can allow the students to see the positive impact they are making.
Another way college students can contribute charitably during the holidays is by organizing fundraising events. As a student, you can get together with campus organizations or clubs to do things like bake sales, concerts, or talent shows; by doing this, not only are you raising money for the charity you choose, but you are also getting other students involved, which may lead them to participate in more charitable events in the future.
The last thing college students can do is use their skills and knowledge to assist non-profit organizations during the holidays. Many charities require support in social media management, website development, marketing, or event planning. These organizations don’t always have the time to promote the charity while also putting it together. So, a great way to help is by reaching out and offering your knowledge of things like social media to help promote the charity. This is just another of many ways students can help.
Over the holidays, many need help getting food, buying gifts, or even having time to balance work and life. By contributing to any of these charities or other charities like food pantries or angel trees, college students are helping to spread the holiday cheer.
