10 Sustainable Ways to Give Back For The Holidays

'Tis The Season of Giving Back To Our Communities & Planet!

A hallmark of the holiday season is spending and giving to spread good tidings, joy, and merriment; you don't have to spend a fortune to do so. While there are many worthy causes to support, one way to ensure that your giving has a lasting impact is to focus on sustainable giving.

Sustainable giving is about more than just writing a check or making a donation; it's about finding ways to help causes and organizations working to create lasting positive change in the world. This can include supporting environmental conservation efforts, helping to provide access to education and healthcare, or working to reduce poverty and inequality.

EcoBlvd encourages you to lift the spirits of someone who might need a little help this holiday season. Doing so is as rewarding to you as it is to someone else. We have put together ten ways to help the environment and community.

Holiday Giving: Why Should You Give Back?

You Are Helping Those In Need

Giving back during the holidays allows us to show compassion for those in need. The holiday season can be difficult for many people, whether they are struggling with financial difficulties, health problems, or challenges. Giving back can help make the holiday season easier for those in need and show them that they are not alone. Creating stronger, more connected communities and supporting our neighbors and friends can benefit us all.

You Are Helping Your Local Community

Another important reason to give back during the holidays is to help build a sense of community and belonging. The holiday season is when many people strongly desire to connect with others and celebrate the things that bring us together. By giving back, we can foster a sense of community and belong and create opportunities for people to come together and support one another. We can better form stronger bonds among our community members and create an environment that is more vibrant and supportive for all.

You Are Helping The Environment

Finally, giving back during the holidays can also positively impact the environment. The holiday season is when many people consume more resources and generate more waste, which can negatively affect the planet. Also, by giving back in ways that support environmental conservation and impacts and make the holiday season a little greener. Participating in environmental stewardship activities, reducing our consumption and waste, and supporting organizations that protect the environment can all contribute to this goal. By taking these steps, we can help to create a healthier and more sustainable future for everyone.

10 Sustainable Ways To Give Back During The Holidays:

1. Run Or Walk For A Good Cause

Holiday runs and walks are a fun and exciting way to get active, enjoy the season, and support a worthy cause simultaneously. By joining a holiday run or walk, you can help raise awareness and funds for organizations working to impact your community positively. This can include organizations supporting environmental conservation, animal welfare, health and wellness, education, and other vital causes.

In addition to the benefits for the organizations and causes you are supporting, participating in a holiday run or walk is also a sustainable way to give back because it promotes physical activity and health. By getting active and staying healthy, you can help to reduce your carbon footprint and support the well-being of your community.

Participating in a holiday run or walk for a cause is a fun, sustainable way to give back and make a difference during the holiday season. So why not lace up your sneakers, join a holiday run, or walk near you? We can support our communities and make the world brighter this holiday season.

2. Volunteer Skills

When you volunteer your skills, you are using your unique talents and abilities to support organizations and causes that are important to you. Volunteering your skills can help these organizations achieve their goals and positively impact your community.

Additionally, volunteering your skills is a sustainable way to give back because it allows you to use your existing knowledge and expertise to benefit others. The experience can be rewarding and fulfilling and assist you in developing new skills and abilities. By volunteering your skills, you can help to build stronger, more vibrant communities and support the well-being of your friends and neighbors.

Volunteering your skills is also a great way to make new connections and expand your network. By volunteering with organizations and causes that are important to you, you can meet like-minded individuals and form new professional and personal relationships. In addition to helping you grow and learn, it can also support the sustainability and health of your community.

Volunteering your skills is a sustainable and rewarding way to give back during the holiday season. Why not consider using your unique talents and abilities to support a worthy cause in your community? Together, we can make a positive difference this holiday season and beyond.

3. Host A Holiday Food Drive

A holiday food drive is a fun and rewarding way to support organizations that provide food and other essential items to those in need. By hosting a food drive, you can collect non-perishable food items and other essentials, such as toiletries and cleaning supplies, and donate them to organizations that assist those in need. The holiday season can be more enjoyable for everyone in your community if everyone has access to food and other necessities.

Hosting a holiday food drive is a sustainable way to give back because it supports your community's long-term health and well-being. By providing food and other essentials to those in need, you can help to reduce food waste and support the sustainability of local food systems. As a result, a more resilient and sustainable community can be created for everyone and the environment.

Also, hosting a holiday food drive is a great way to get involved and make a difference in your community. Organizing a food drive can bring together friends, neighbors, and other community members to support a worthy cause. Building stronger, more connected communities and providing opportunities for people to come together and support one another can achieve this.

Hosting a holiday food drive is a sustainable and rewarding way to give back during the holiday season. So why not consider organizing a food drive in your community and helping to make a positive difference this holiday season? 

 

4. Organize A Community Garden

 

A community garden is a shared space where community members can gather to grow fruits, vegetables, and other plants. Organizing a community garden allows people to connect with nature, learn about gardening and sustainable food production, and enjoy the benefits of fresh, locally-grown produce.

Organizing a community garden is a sustainable way to give back because it supports your community's long-term health and well-being. Community gardens can help promote physical activity and healthy eating and provide access to fresh, nutritious food for people who otherwise may not have access to it. Creating a more sustainable and resilient food system can positively impact health and well-being.

Additionally, organizing a community garden is a great way to unite people and build community. By creating a shared space where people can work together and enjoy the outdoors, you can help foster connections and relationships between community members. In this way, everyone can enjoy a more vibrant and supportive environment.

Overall, organizing a community garden is a sustainable and rewarding way to give back during the holiday season. So why not consider starting a community garden in your neighborhood and help to make a positive difference in your community? 

 

5. Make Holiday Cards For Nursing Home Residents & Children's Hospital Patients

Making holiday cards is a fun and rewarding way to bring cheer and joy to those who may not be able to celebrate the holidays the same way as others. By making holiday cards, you can show your support and compassion for nursing home residents and children's hospital patients and help brighten their day during a difficult time.

Making holiday cards is also a sustainable way to give back because it is an eco-friendly and low-cost activity. You can use materials that you already have on hand, such as card stock, markers, and stickers, to create beautiful and unique cards. You can reduce your own consumption and waste and contribute to your community's sustainability.

Making holiday cards is also a great way to get creative and express yourself. You can create truly special and meaningful cards with your unique style and artistic abilities. It can be a fun and fulfilling experience and contribute to the well-being of those who receive your cards.

Making holiday cards for nursing home residents and children's hospital patients is a sustainable and rewarding way to give back during the holiday season. So why not consider making holiday cards and spreading cheer to those who may need it most?

 

6. Donate Warm Clothes & Toys

Donating warm clothes and toys is a simple but powerful way to support those who are struggling during the holiday season. By donating items that you no longer need or use, you can help provide essential items to those who may otherwise not have access to them. This can help keep people warm and comfortable during the cold winter months and provide much-needed joy and excitement to children who may not have many other gifts to open on Christmas morning.

Donating warm clothes and toys is also a sustainable way to give back because it helps to reduce waste and support the circular economy. When you donate items you no longer need, you give them a new life and keep them out of landfills.

Additionally, donating warm clothes and toys is a great way to support organizations and charities working to help those in need. By donating to these organizations, you can help them continue their essential work and positively impact your community. This can help to create stronger, more vibrant neighborhoods and support the well-being of those who are struggling.

Donating warm clothes and toys is a sustainable and rewarding way to give back during the holiday season.

 

7. Pay It Forward

When you pay it forward, you do something kind or helpful for someone else without expecting anything in return. It can be as simple as buying coffee for the person behind you or as significant as volunteering to support a worthy cause. By paying it forward, you can help create a ripple effect of kindness and generosity that can positively impact your community.

Paying it forward supports the well-being of others without consuming extra resources or producing waste. By paying it forward, you make a positive difference in the world by using your abilities and resources. As well as fostering connections and relationships with others, paying it forward is also a great way to make new friends. When you do something kind for someone else, you create an opportunity for them to do the same. 

Paying it forward is both sustainable and rewarding when it comes to giving back during the holiday season. So why not consider being kind to someone else and creating a ripple effect of kindness and generosity within your community? 

 

8. Shop Local

 

Shopping local means supporting small, independent businesses in your community. This can significantly impact your community as local shopping helps support the local economy by circulating money, creating jobs and opportunities, and making your community a vibrant and attractive place.

Additionally, shopping locally is also a sustainable way to give back because it reduces the environmental impact of your holiday shopping. When you shop locally, your purchases are often made using local materials and resources, which can help to reduce the energy and resources needed to transport goods from faraway places. Your community can benefit from this by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution.

Shopping locally is also a great way to discover unique, one-of-a-kind gifts you won't find anywhere else. Many local businesses offer handmade, artisanal, and other special items that make for unique and memorable gifts. By shopping locally, you can support your community and give your loved ones truly special and meaningful gifts.

Overall, shopping locally is a sustainable and rewarding way to give back during the holiday season. So this year, consider supporting your local businesses and helping to make your community a little brighter.

 

9. Shop Your Values With Give-Back Brands

 

Shopping your values with brands that give back to the planet is a sustainable way to give back because it supports the long-term health and well-being of the planet. By choosing to support businesses that donate to environmental organizations, you can help fund the work of organizations protecting the environment, supporting animal welfare, promoting sustainable agriculture, and many other important causes that support our communities' sustainability.

There are many brands and businesses that are committed to supporting environmental conservation and sustainability. One sustainable way to do this is by shopping your values with brands that are members of 1% For The Planet.

1% For The Planet is an international network of businesses committed to supporting environmental conservation and sustainability. These businesses pledge to donate at least 1% of their annual sales to support nonprofit organizations that work to protect the planet. By shopping with these brands, you can support the important work that they do, and you can help to create a healthier and more sustainable future for everyone.

At EcoBlvd, we cannot take from the environment without giving back to it. Due to this, we are proud members of 1% for the Planet. We have doubled our commitment and are donating a minimum of 2% of our total revenue to environmental non-profit organizations, such as the National Forest Foundation, Mojave Desert Land Trust, Ocean Conservancy, etc.

To learn more about how we give back and our sustainability initiatives, read our “Protecting The Planet” page. 

 

10. Make A Difference Online

 

Making a difference online by spreading awareness is a sustainable way of giving back. In today's world, the internet has become a powerful tool for connecting people and sharing information. By using your social media platforms, blogs, and websites to share important messages and raise awareness about important issues, you can positively impact the world around you.

In addition to being a sustainable way of giving back, spreading awareness online also has the potential to reach a wider audience than traditional forms of activism. You can educate and inform others by sharing important messages with your online networks, potentially inspiring them to take action.

Moreover, sharing awareness online can also build a sense of community and solidarity among like-minded individuals. By coming together and working towards a common goal, you can help to create positive change and make a real difference in the world.

If you want to impact the world and give back sustainably positively, consider spreading awareness online. By using the power of the internet to share important messages and inspire others to take action, you can make a real difference and help to create a better world for us all.

Conclusion:

Overall, the key to giving back sustainably is to think about the long-term impact of our actions and make choices that support the health of our planet. By following these tips, you can enjoy the holiday season while also making a positive difference in the world.