By Maeve Kiley, Contributing Writer
For most college students, money is tight, and sometimes it can feel that you cannot make a difference without it. However, quite the opposite is true.
Communities can thrive, and the holiday season can be jolly for everyone if people are willing to give back just a little. Even an overworked student struggling to stay afloat can change someone’s life for the better with only a tiny bit of extra effort.
Before any break can begin, you need to first pack up your belongings. When sorting through the mountains of clothes, spare a second thought to question how frequently you wear each article of clothing. Whether it’s a pair of too-small sneakers that have been taking up space or an old shirt that has not been worn since high school, someone else can make good use of it.
If the piece of clothing is in decent condition, you can drop it off in the THORN Clothing donation box located inside Saint Jude’s Chapel at Saint Leo University before heading home for the holidays.
THORN volunteers will then transport the goods for distribution to those in need. This small act is an effective way to spread holiday cheer and clear your closet, just in case Hollister has a sale during the break.
Speaking of donations, your old school supplies can be gifted to students in need as well. It is easy to get overzealous in the back-to-school shopping sprees, and a few notebooks or unopened pen packages might still be lying around at the end of the fall semester.
Instead of adding to the garbage pile or letting those supplies gather dust, you can drop them off at the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or even a local thrift store. Local elementary and middle schools may set up designated donation areas as well, so keep your eyes peeled for a quick stop to get rid of that five-pack of tape that your Bio-Med class ended up not needing.
If you have a free day and a full tank of gas during the break, a fun and rewarding activity you can partake in is local volunteering. Volunteer apps such as Idealist or Volunteermatch.com can be downloaded with ease.
Browse dozens of local volunteer opportunities, ranging from holiday-themed excursions such as Tampa’s “Jingle Bell Jog” for the Arthritis Foundation or a day spent caring for furry friends at your local Animal Humane Society.
Pick the one that’s right for you and invite a friend to tag along. You can spend an entire day giving back or even just a few hours. These opportunities can be a great way to bond with loved ones and care for your community during the holiday season.
When the holiday season is over and you are rummaging through your pile of presents, you may come across a funky sweater that hurts to look at, or maybe one of your friends gave you a box of candy full of ingredients you can’t eat.
Instead of tossing those unwanted gifts in the trash, do a quick online search and see if they can be donated. That strange sweater can be dropped off at Goodwill, and that candy box can be delivered to a local homeless shelter or food pantry.
This is a resourceful way to make sure that the gift does not go to waste, as well as ensuring the gift giver’s efforts go towards a person’s happiness instead of straight to your garbage bin.
Whether it is in the snowy mountains of Colorado or the sandy beaches of Miami, there are always people in need and ways to help them. If people are willing to give an inch, it can go a mile, even with the smallest amount of effort. Even if it’s an afternoon spent caring for cats or a box of unwanted clothes, good work can be done on even the coldest winter nights.
