Add “Giving Back” to Your Holiday To-Do List

Are you starting your list of the lists you need to make to be ready for the holiday season? Having nightmares about raw turkey and a shortage of folding chairs? Rocking those bench presses so you’re ready for Black Friday? This season, meant to be one of time spent with our loved ones (the ones Uncle Sam hasn’t swooped up for a mission) and all manner of warm fuzzies, can quickly become a season of stress and chaos.

So now, before total insanity ensues, let’s talk about some ways you can honor the spirit of the holidays in ways that will bless others and make you feel good at the same time.

Pick a cause your family can get behind. You’ve probably already got “power wash everything” on your list of things to do, right? We tend to get busy cleaning and decluttering when we know there will be witnesses friends and family visiting. Use that motivation for good. Pick a cause your family can agree on. Have the kids hold a garage sale with their old toys and games and earmark the proceeds to your charity of choice. (And in the process make room for the new toys and games that will likely be gifted soon.) Dedicate a month’s worth of swear jar contributions to the cause. Brainstorm creative ways you can contribute. Make it a game to see how much you can raise to donate.

Support your local food bank. We don’t like to think about it, but food insecurity is a real and pressing problem in our country. And yes, many military families are among those who don’t always know where the next meal is going to come from. Supporting your local food bank during the holiday season (and all year long) is an easy way to do your part. You can take advantage of coupons and sales to stock up on the items your local food bank most needs. You can donate your time serving food or sorting donated items. Bonus points if you get your whole family involved. Now that would be a great holiday tradition to begin!

Reach out to others in your community. Whether you live on post or off post, there’s likely someone (or several someones) you know who could use some company this time of year. Maybe it’s the family next door who’s going through their first holiday separated by a deployment. Maybe it’s an elderly neighbor whose kids live too far away to visit. Pay attention to who might be particularly vulnerable or alone and give them the gift of your love and compassion. Bring a batch of brownies. Invite them to your Thanksgiving dinner. Sit with them for a brief visit. Call to see how they’re doing. None of these options is expensive or terribly time-consuming. But each one could make a world of difference for someone feeling down or isolated.

Send a touch of the holidays to someone who can’t be with family. If you’re lucky enough to have your service member with you this holiday season, take some time to put together a care package for a service member who can’t be home this year. You’re a seasoned pro at care packages by now. A box of stuffing mix, some instant mashed potatoes, a can of yams, turkey jerky—voila! Thanksgiving in a box. Extra credit if you throw in a quick note about why you’re grateful for their service. Double extra credit if you pay a visit to that service member’s family with a bottle of wine and a slice of whatever pie you’re serving for dinner.

However you choose to do it, be mindful about opportunities to honor, celebrate, and care for others. That is the whole point of the season after all.

MILLIE is an online community and digital marketplace that connects members of the military and their families with specialized knowledge and trusted resource providers to alleviate the stress of PCS’ing. Check out MILLIE’s Installation Guides, their network of Veteran and military spouse real estate agents, and MILLIE Scouts, their on-demand task service comprised of military spouses.