Thursday, November 8, 2012

How to Give when you have little.

Recently, I was called on to help out my daughter's Girl Scout troop. It started when I worked as a camp counselor and now I'm an assistant leader. Even though this adds to my already busy days, I love it. It fulfills a need in my life to help children and be a role model, and does so in such a fun way :)

It got me thinking about ways to give, since we don't have much disposable income even with me working (thanks in part to childcare expenses and student loans that finally need repaid). I still feel like I need to give, and model that for my children. Here are a few ways that I have found to help even with little money.



1. The Hunger Site. This is a website that pays charities per click. Add it to your toolbar and click it daily. I checked into this before promoting it, and Snopes says it's legit. So this is one way you can donate a little each day without much effort. Check the lineup on the website, you can also click to help children, literacy, breast cancer research, and much more.

2. Crowdtap. I've mentioned Crowdtap before, but in addition to taking quick surveys and trying new products, when you register you can pick a charity to have points and funds directed to. As you earn points for various activities (from signing in, clicking poll options, or submitting reports for product samples) you can also redeem them for charity gift cards. I have struggled with redeeming Amazon giftcards for myself, and have decided that it'd be easier for me to just use this as another way to give.

3. Clothing. This is one way to donate that is probably the easiest for those of us with growing kids. If you have gently used clothing there are probably many local charities that would gladly take them. Check in your area for food pantries, shelters for homeless, or safe houses. Many times these families have growing children as well who could use the clothes. This time of year coats and blankets may be especially appreciated.

4. The Humane Shelter. My local Humane Shelter collects various things you could purchase (such as food, litter, etc), but there are also items on the list that you could find at home. Old towels, newspaper, and even aluminum cans are things on the request list here. I've set up an old diaper box to put the newspapers and towels in and plan to donate when it is full. If you can't donate materials, many times they could use dog walkers or people to play with the cats, which brings me to my last option.

5. Your Time. I know we all have busy lives, and that it can be difficult to work one more thing in. I also think that finding ways to donate your time can be worth every minute of stress. I've donated an evening a week to my daughter's troop, but I want to find more ways to get involved (and an extra bonus if I can bring my children along). Many schools have mentor programs where you get to be a positive adult role model for children. Your local food pantries and soup kitchens may need help serving or cleaning up. A road in your town may need cleaned up. This is where you can pick something important to you and find a way to do something about it. Whether that is once a day, week, month, or year is up to you.

18 comments:

  1. All of these are excellent ideas and ways of helping for those of us that are otherwise unable to do so.

    Thank you for these hints!

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    1. :D I'm glad they could help. It can be hard when you feel like you're barely making as it is, but even the small things add up :) Thank you for reading!

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  2. I regularly pass on the kids outgrown clothes. I also collect box tops to help the school. It doesn't cost me any money but gives them money. Great suggestions.

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    1. Box tops are another great opportunity that I missed. I think that this it the start of a series on giving. There are so many little ways that can be overlooked. Thank you!

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  3. Great ideas! I like to pass my kids clothes and toys on to others.

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    1. One "selfish" reason I love it is to cut the clutter ;), but it also feels really good to know that I've helped too :)

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  4. Great ideas! This is good for adults to do too. Excellent ideas... great job and your blog is looking so good!

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    1. Thank you! :) I agree. I feel like I try to teach my kids to share and think of others, but the best way is going to be through my example. And thank you :) It has been a labor of love, I am really proud of it :)

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  5. Great info...that I didn't know.
    Here is another one...
    http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

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    1. Thank you :) I will definitely be clicking that link to help.

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  6. Very well said. Also, don't forget nursing homes love visitors--you can just drop in at most (after clearing it with staff) and stay for as little or long as you like!

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    1. Thank you so much for that suggestion! I plan to keep thinking of ways to give and that will be on my next list. Our Girl Scout troop will be visiting a nursing home around Christmas, but having someone to visit with is needed all year long.

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  7. A lovely post, if would all gave something wouldn't the world be a better place x

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    1. I agree. I can understand the frustration when you feel like you can barely make ends meet (I'm there almost daily), but it has been helpful to see what I can do rather than focus on what I can't. :)

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  8. Very good post...you should link it up in my Frugal Friday Linky ;)

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    1. I just did, thank you so much! I'm adding your button to my sidebar too :)

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  9. These are good ways to give of ourselves, which is the best way to give.

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    1. I agree! Giving money can help a lot, but it's far from the only (or more fulfilling) way to give :) Thanks for reading!

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