Giving Back to the Community in Calgary

The holiday season brings a ton of opportunities to have fun and enjoy Christmas/Hanukah/Non-denominational festivities. But as YPs, we also feel it is important to give back and ensure that everyone has a great experience. The following are just a few of the ways you can get involved in YYC over the holiday season.

The Mustard Seed and The Drop in Centre
For some Calgarians, a home to go home to is a dream rather than reality.

Help Calgarians in need at the Mustard Seed and have a wonderful time this holiday season – there are a ton of opportunities to help out, anything from providing festive entertainment, to making cards, preparing sandwiches, serving meals, and packing holiday hampers.

Hospice Calgary
Hospice Calgary offers grief counseling and hospice care for people facing a life-threatening illness or the death of a loved one. The 7th Annual Tree of Love is at Market Mall from December 10-23. Stop by and make a donation, personalize an ornament, take it home and make a donation to Hospice Calgary. 

Calgary Interfaith Food Bank
Put together an ‘Emergency Food Hamper’ with friends. The average Hamper is one week’s food for a family of four. Here’s a good place to start: Juice (1 litre), Baby Formula with Iron, Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Canned Tomatoes, Peanut Butter, Canned Beans in Tomato Sauce, Cereal, Canned and Dry Soup, Baby Food (jars), Canned Fish, Macaroni and Cheese, Canned Vegetables, Rice, Canned Meat, Canned Fruit.

Another option is getting your friends to make non-perishable food donations at your next get together.

Calgary Zoo
Volunteering at the Calgary Zoo during Zoolights is a holiday tradition for many Calgarians. Why not make it one of your new traditions? By participating in this major Calgary Zoo special event through hosting warm crackling fires or burning off the extra piece of shortbread in their Penguin Plunge Kids Zone, there is something for everyone.

Snow Angel
Be a Snow Angel. Shovel your neighbours’ walkway or driveway and keep the streets safe for everyone. All you have to do to be a Snow Angel is simply adopt an older adult’s sidewalk this winter, and keep it clear. Watch for people in your neighbourhood that could use help removing snow from their sidewalks and driveways and ask if you can lend them a hand.

If you’re planning on hosting a holiday event this year, why not raise money while celebrating with friends and family? Have a dish set up by the door where people can make a financial contribution. Take it one step further and let your guests choose a charity of choice and put their choices in the pot. At the end of the night, make a draw to see who the lucky charity will be.