Holiday Giving Makeover

By: Lesley White-Buefort, Travel Writer

The holiday season brings to mind a frenzy of gift buying and credit card maxing that often lead to blood pressure rising! We shop, shop, and shop to find that PERFECT gift for everyone on our lists. With the economy in its present state and thousands without jobs, human service organizations are seeing increased numbers of requests for help. Almost simultaneously, these same VITAL organizations are also seeing decreases in funding. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa, the upcoming season provides us with a perfect opportunity to give back. Bear in mind that these holidays are about SO MUCH MORE than just the exchange of gifts. You may find greater reward in giving your sweat equity that you would feel simply by writing a check.

Gather up a group of friends and donate time to a local charity – soup kitchens, homeless shelters and the like can always use an extra hand. Perhaps instead of a holiday party, you and your colleagues can spend some time volunteering. You could choose to read to children at a shelter, or collect sample sizes of shampoo and other personal items and use them to make festive gift bags for women at a treatment center.

Provided below is a list of organizations all over New England that provide meals and other services to people in need. Why not make it priority to join them over the holidays?

VOLUNTEERING RESOURCES

Please note that some of these organizations become “booked” with volunteers during holiday periods, so you will have to contact them or your favorite charity early and plan ahead!

NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Horizons for New Hampshire - http://www.newhorizonsfornh.org/

The Friendly Kitchen - http://www.thefriendlykitchen.org/

The Sonshine Soup Kitchen - http://www.sonshinesoupkitchen.org/

MAINE

Wayside Soup Kitchen - http://www.waysidemaine.org/

Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen - http://www.use.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use_bangor.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/39BF38D3033E9EBA8025737100547504?Opendocument

RHODE ISLAND

Amos House - http://www.amoshouse.com/

Judy’s Kindness Kitchen - http://www.judyskindnesskitchen.org/

CONNECTICUT

Shoreline Soup Kitchens - www.shorelinesoupkitchens.org/