Give the Gift of Volunteering

Seasonal Support

By Katrina McDowell on Dec 17, 2024 in Giving, People

The holidays can be a challenging time for many. Instead of buying extravagant gifts, why not give the gift of your time to something truly meaningful? Here are some Yardi-supported nonprofits that warmly welcome volunteers, donations, and a sprinkle of magic to brighten the lives of those less fortunate.

Observe National Volunteer Month by taking care of the environment. Bundle up and take a winter walk to pick up trash at a local park. Recycle the waste in the community to make it healthier and more pleasant. It’s a task you can perform anywhere and does not require much. Yardi-supported nonprofit Tree’s Atlanta offers holiday cards to purchase. In doing so, each card plants a shade tree in the metroplex of Atlanta.

Work with children and youths this month, volunteer at a nursery or orphanage, or tutor teens at an after-school program. When mentoring children, you are teaching them the value of volunteering. Toy drives are another way to spread joy to children and youth. Santa by the Sea is a nonprofit organization that provides toys to over 1500 kids in one of the most impoverished communities in California. This organization saved the world’s largest Santa from demolition, which is how this novel toy drive started.

Another Yardi-supported nonprofit organization, Dallas CASA, has an annual angel tree program. The organization advocates in the community and courtroom for children in the protective care of the state so they can grow up in safe, permanent homes where they can thrive. This year, #TeamYardi Irving delivered gifts to 71 individuals for its angel tree program.

Ronald McDonald House Charities (ARMH) are found all over the country, and help families have access to healthcare while offering comfort and hope during complex medical journeys. #TeamYardi Atlanta volunteers several times throughout the year for the Atlanta ARMH, whether cooking up a feast for the families staying there or working in its special holiday toy store where families can do all their holiday shopping free of charge. If looking to support them during the holidays, ARMH has a wish list of needs for families during the holiday season.

Volunteering is good for health

Volunteering is not just about giving. It’s also about gaining. It teaches unique, valuable skills that can be applied in various fields, from coordinating a fundraising drive to teaching children. More than that, it’s therapeutic. Research by Cambridge University shows that volunteerism significantly benefits people with severe mental health issues to the extent that it’s encouraged as part of recovery-oriented services at mental health organizations. And it’s not just mental health. Volunteers show a 63 percent lower mortality rate, and the physical activity involved in volunteer work can lower the risk of developing lifestyle diseases. The work also helps reduce stress and triggers those reward centers in your brain when you’ve succeeded.

So please do whatever you can this holiday season and spread holiday joy to those who deserve it the most!

Find future non-profit profiles at https://www.yardi.com/blog/category/giving.

Yardi is Energized for Good! Visit www.yardi.org for more about our philanthropic reach.