FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 5, 2019 • HOLIDAY GUIDE • THE QUEENS COURIER 57 holiday
Get inspired to give back this holiday season
For many, the holiday season sparks
the spirit of giving - not only among family
and friends, but to those living in
need and the organizations working to
help them. If you’re committed to helping
improve the lives of others in your community,
it may mean thinking long-term.
Aft er the lights come down and the
New Year’s ball drops, the programs and
services provided by most nonprofi ts
and cause-based organizations continue
to run year-round. Th eir ability to help
those they serve not only relies on meeting
a single season’s fundraising goals but
also on the ongoing commitments from
donors who provide the fi nancial stability
they need to plan and grow. Th ese fi ve
tips can help your gift s provide long-term
benefi ts for the causes you support:
Make a personal connection. Handdeliver
your donation to a local chapter
and introduce yourself as a supporter.
Even consider bringing your kids to
inspire generations of giving. Inquire
about how you can make the greatest
impact and learn about ongoing events
and opportunities to get involved.
Spread your contribution over time. If a
strict monthly budget has you concerned
about breaking the bank, consider signing
up for a recurring donation to benefi
t those served by an organization like
Th e Salvation Army throughout the year.
A $25 monthly gift can feed 126 people
over the course of one year or provide 11
nights of shelter for those in need in your
community.
Introduce co-workers to the cause.
Many businesses support employees’ volunteer
eff orts and match contributions,
which makes it easy for you to become
a champion for cause-related work in
your community. Gathering colleagues
who share your passion for a cause is a
team-building activity that allows you to
build personal connections with people
you might not have a chance to interact
with regularly otherwise. Sharing the load
also means you can take turns volunteering,
attending events or making contributions
for a larger overall impact than you
could make on your own.
Give the gift of giving. Rather than giving
material goods, consider a meaningful
contribution in your gift recipient’s
honor. Or share an experience to benefi
t the cause: spend date night volunteering
or gift someone tickets to a nonprofi t
organization’s performance or gala event.
Pay it forward with younger generations.
Introducing kids to the joy of giving can pay
dividends for decades to come. Teach the
little ones in your life about the big impact
they can make by letting them get handson.
Kids delight in getting to donate loose
change, by dropping it in an iconic red kettle,
for example (this year, you can even
donate through Apple Pay or Google Pay)
and you can take advantage of their interest
by explaining the impact of their donation.
An average of 82 cents of every $1 donated
to Th e Salvation Army goes directly to help
neighbors who need it most.
Donations to nonprofi t organizations
are tax-exempt no matter when they are
contributed during the year.
Learn more about giving opportunities
all year long by joining the Fight for Good
at SalvationArmyUSA.org.
— Courtesy Family Features
THE LARGEST LANTERN FESTIVAL IN NORTH AMERICA
/WWW.QNS.COM
/SalvationArmyUSA.org
