Home at Thomasville ~ Creative Ways to Serve Your Community This Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time of joy, gratitude, and giving, but it can also be a season of need for many others. While traditional ways of helping—like donating to food drives or volunteering at shelters—are incredibly impactful, there are also other unique and creative ways to give back within your community. Lang Nelson and Associates organizes several charitable events at this time, with each of our communities doing something different. This year Thomasville Apartments is collecting donations for Solid Ground in White Bear Lake. Solid Ground assists veterans and families in need. Try these other creative ideas out with friends and family or see about your place of work getting involved.
1. Organize a “Kindness Exchange” ~ Set up a kindness swap with acts of Service. Individuals can help their neighbors by shoveling snow, running errands, baking, or cleaning for each other. Create a sign-up sheet for your fellow neighbors to encourage people to participate.
2. Host a Community DIY Drive ~ DIY drive can help save on costs of gifts and decorations. Collect supplies like craft paper, stencils, paint, markers, ribbons, and glue, and invite friends, or community members to a craft night where they can create handmade holiday cards, ornaments, or gifts. This creates a sense of ownership and joy without the financial burden.
3. Adopt a Nursing Home ~ Elderly residents often feel isolated and alone during the holidays. Nursing homes often have an option to “adopt” a resident who doesn’t have family nearby. You can deliver handmade letters or cards, organize virtual visits, or even give small tokens like a cozy blanket, slippers, or a puzzle to brighten their days during this time.
4. Create a Winter Wear Lending Library ~ This can go throughout the entire season and not just the holidays. Set up a pop-up station where people can both borrow and give winter weather essentials such as coats, hats, mittens and boots.
5. Host a Skill-Share Event ~ Financial stress is a common hardship during the holidays. Events where skills are shared instead of material gifts can still foster that sense of community and empowerment within people. A skill share is a great way to gather together and learn or teach practical skills such as cooking, budgeting, sewing, or easy home maintenance repairs.
6. Set Up a “Wish Tree” for Local Causes ~ Partner with local schools, shelters, or community organizations to identify specific needs. Place all the wishes onto ornaments and hang them on a tree or posted to a community board at a popular local spot. People in the community can pick an ornament and fulfill a wish, such as food donations, groceries, or toys.
7. Offer Free Holiday Photos ~ Professional holiday photos are often out of reach for many families and can be pricey. If you’re a photographer—or know someone who is—offer free mini photo sessions somewhere in your local community or place of business. These photos become cherished memories, especially for families who might not have access to such experiences.
8. Deliver “Thank You Kits” to Heroes ~ Show appreciation for those who serve your community year-round, or those who have served our country. Veterans, teachers, healthcare workers, first responders. Assemble small care packages with handwritten notes, snacks, and self-care items to remind them how valued they are.
9. Set Up a Pop-Up Hot Beverage Stand ~ On a cold day, set up a free stand offering hot chocolate, coffee, or tea in high-traffic areas like bus stops, parks, or skating rinks. This simple and thoughtful act can warm not only hands but also hearts and won’t break the bank to create.
10. Facilitate a “Reverse Advent Calendar” ~ Instead of receiving a treat each day, families can give something—a canned good, a warm blanket, or toiletries—to a box. By Christmas, they’ll have a full collection to donate to a local shelter or food bank. Another option would be to commit to a small act of kindness every day, such as taking out the trash for an elderly neighbor, or buying a coffee for the person behind you in line. Advent Calendars can be handmade instead of purchased as well and can be all different styles.
This holiday season, small acts of kindness can make a big difference. By thinking outside the box and engaging others in creative ways, you can create ripples of generosity that will strengthen the bonds within your community. Let’s make this a season of service and shared joy.
THOMASVILLE APARTMENTS
1720 4th Street
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
651.426.2048
tvmanager@lanel.com
