Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays, givers. The i have. i give. team hopes that everyone has a happy and safe holiday as we head full steam into the wintery months! We thought we would give you givers a few ideas to start the season off on the right foot and make someone's day. Nothing is better than giving--especially right now! So read our list and try a few of these out. Who knows, it might just make your day, too :)

1.       Shovel your neighbor’s driveway or sidewalk

-- Great exercise for you and a welcome relief from the cold for your charitable gift receiver. Charitable giving doesn’t have to include money; it just needs to be from the heart.

2.       Sing Christmas carols at an Elderly home

-- Everyone loves two things during the holiday season; getting together with people and Christmas music.  Drink some hot tea and warm up your voice because singing ‘Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer’ and ‘Silver Bells’ is definitely going to take some skills.

3.       Wrap presents at Barnes & Noble

--It’s the simple things in life that make a difference. This is one of those things. It doesn’t take much skill to wrap a present, but it does take a lot of time.

4.       Deliver a meal to homebound seniors

-- Have a free Friday or Saturday? Enjoy food? Visit voacolorado.org to find out more information about their Market Meals or Meals on Wheels programs.

5.       Help a neighbor put up or take down Christmas lights

--It can be a daunting task, but one that is worth it in the end.  Your neighbor will enjoy the company and you will get to enjoy the lights whenever you drive home. 

6.       Clean the snow of off a stranger’s car

--If you have some extra time in the morning use it to do a good deed. Brushing or scraping the snow off of someones car is a great way to start your day and that person’s day off on the right foot.

7.       Buy a cup of coffee for the person behind you in line

-- That Starbucks or local coffee shop line can get pretty long. Imagine if as you go to pull out your wallet the barista says, “It’s been taken care of.”  That’s definitely a shock and ‘make your day’ kind of gesture.

8.       Donate Blood

--Every 2 seconds a person in the U.S requires a transfusion of blood.  Visit donors.bonfils.org to find a location near you to give blood. There are blood drives practically every day on their schedule. Here are few in the Metro Denver area:

○    Cherry Creek North- 2^nd & Fillmore- November 10^th- 10 a.m – 3:30 p.m

○    Denver Museum of Nature & Science- November 23^rd –10 a.m -3:30 p.m

○    Denver Public Library- Central Branch- December 7^th – 8 a.m – 1:30 p.m

9.       Make Holiday cards for your neighbors or strangers

-- This is a great creative activity for adults and children. Snail Mail is a thing of the past, but it’s still the best way to make a person’s day after a long day of work, school, etc. You can give the cards to your neighbors, slip them under someone’s windshield wiper or give them to a cashier at a store this holiday season. Everyone likes to know their appreciated.

10.    Bake cookies for your mailperson

--He or She delivers your mail all year long, through the sunny days and the freezing cold days. A batch of cookies would be a welcome surprise. It may make the rest of their route a little warmer.