Halloween is in the rearview mirror and the major American holidays are just around the corner.  This means time to spend with family, friends, and loved ones, but it also means hundreds of thousands of our neighbors that will be going without this holiday season.

There are so many ways to give back, so choosing a way to give or a charity to give to seems just as daunting as doing holiday shopping for those closest to you.  So how do you choose a way to give back?  Here’s our guide for helping out and how to give back.

Give to Charity

Probably one of the obvious ways to give back is to give to charity, but choosing the right one can be a little bit tricky.  Major charities across the United States and throughout the world give to hundreds of thousands of different causes and people in need.  That said, make sure any charity you donate to meets your philanthropic desires for your donations.

Volunteer

The holidays get busy for almost any charity, church, or giving organization which means many many bodies are needed to meet the needs of those less fortunate.  Volunteering at a local non-profit organization can be one of the most helpful, fulfilling, and needed ways to give back.

Consider helping out at a local soup kitchen, food bank, or community pantry.  Local churches and other religious organizations help out their communities during the holidays, so if you belong to one of them consider volunteering to help out.

Fundraising Online

The internet has become a go-to for donations and fundraising online.  You’re probably already familiar with GoFundMe and other similar websites that allow users to fundraise for practically any sort of reason.  If you don’t have the time to volunteer or can’t find a charity worthy of your personal funds, then consider starting your own fundraising campaign for a cause that’s close to your heart.

Besides the fundraising websites linked above, Facebook has increasingly become a major player in fundraising efforts for charity and not-for-profit causes.  While choosing a fundraising website for a good cause is worthwhile, most fundraising websites take a commission from your fundraising efforts.  Do your research and find out what donation websites take the least commission or no commission at all before you start your fundraising campaign.

Mortgage Charities

There’s a charity for virtually everything in the world, but one way you may want to help out is to donate to a mortgage charity.  While no one ever expects to miss a mortgage payment or get in trouble with their mortgage, the fact of the matter is that life happens and sometimes we all need a little help when the unexpected happens.

There are a handful of charities out there that help those in need of financial assistance keep their homes during rough stretches of life.  Many charities are local to certain geographic areas or certain states, so do some research in your neck of the woods and see if there’s a way you can help someone in financial distress keep their home and get back on their feet!