Give & Take: How to Give Back When Staying Home

2020 has already been a year full of challenges with both regional and global adversity. For me – and I bet you feel the same way too – it’s more important than ever to do our part and give back to our communities.

As we find ourselves increasingly staying at home, it can be harder to find ways to contribute, but many of us have more time on our hands than ever to do just that. Luckily, there are a number of ways to give back even if you’re limiting social contact, or even without leaving home. Here are five of our favorites:

1. 1. Give Blood – If you are looking for a low-contact, valuable way to leave the house and get some fresh air, consider visiting your nearest blood donation facility. When hospitals see a growing flux in patients from a spreading sickness, they need to increase supplies, but the pool of potential donors decreases. Healthy, eligible adults should consider making an appointment to give blood and help build medical resources.

1. 2. Donate to Local Organizations – Community organizations are often among those hit hardest during local crises, but they often already struggle to balance high demand with limited funding. If you’re looking to offer financial support, your community’s food bank or homeless shelter likely need the help and will allow you to give directly to those around you in need.

1. 3. Pen Pals for Good – If you’re craving connection but staying at home, think about finding a pen pal! Even better, someone who is just as in need of a friend. Chemo Angels is an organization that matches volunteers with cancer patients and asks for you to send cards, letters, small gifts, and/or uplifting notes once a week. It’s a long-term but doable commitment that will make someone’s day.

1. 4. Put Your Language Skills to Use – Being fluent in a second (or third, or fourth…) language isn’t just great for your resume, it can also make you a huge help for global organizations. Translators Without Borders is a nonprofit that offers language and translation support for humanitarian, development and other non-profit agencies. You can put your skills to use and keep them in top shape by becoming a volunteer translator.

1. 5. A Reason to Keep Knitting – For the knitters out there, you’ve probably reached capacity for scarves and hats to give your family at this point, so keep yourself busy by creating pieces for those in need. Warm Up America highlights organizations seeking donations and lists the top needed items, so you know your creations will go to good use.