Traditions, whether they be decades old or entirely new, are a vital part of the holidays. These rituals bring together family and friends to celebrate this special time of year. Many families enjoy holiday traditions like baking cookies, decorating their homes, and attending services. As this is the season of giving, it might be time to adopt a new tradition to help people in your community. Here are four meaningful traditions you can start this holiday season:
1. Write a Letter to a Veteran in Need: Although some veterans return home to their families after serving, many are left with no place to call home, like those at our Safe Havens emergency shelters. The holidays can be an especially lonely time for our veteran clients. This is a great opportunity to send a letter or card thanking them for their service and letting them know you’ll be thinking of them during this special time of year. You could even go the extra mile and donate a holiday gift to one of our veteran clients.
2. Pack Resource Card Kits: To help those experiencing homelessness or hard times, MCCH provides resource cards filled with local sources of support for people who need shelter, food, and clothing, as well as employment and legal services. While we encourage you to decide whether to include something with the resource card, creating a simple resource card kit is an easy way to give back. In a Ziploc bag, you can include a small bottle of water, a pair of gloves or hand warmers, and a granola bar with the resource card. Keep a few of these kits in your car and hand them out during the winter months.
3. Hold a Facebook Fundraiser: One easy tradition to start this year is to hold a fundraiser for a local non-profit. Facebook has made it even easier to hold fundraisers, and you can ask for donations in lieu of holiday gifts. You can start a Facebook fundraiser for MCCH right now!
4. Make Care Packages for First Responders: Even on holidays, first responders continue to help others. You can pack some goodies and deliver them to your local police or fire station on days when most people are at home with their families. Fill a mason jar or small container with coffee pods or tea bags, seasonal treats, lip balm, and a note thanking them for their dedication to saving lives. For many our clients, first responders were the gateway to MCCH, and they visit the shelter several times a week for health emergencies. We can’t thank them enough for all that they do!
Starting one of these traditions is a wonderful opportunity to help those experiencing homelessness for years to come. Share this blog and encourage others to adopt one of these traditions too!
Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) is a non-profit with the mission to provide solutions in Montgomery County to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Learn more about MCCH.
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