It may be the season of giving but a lot of us are still struggling with trying to find ways to give outside of just leaving gifts under the tree. Check out this blog for some easy but meaningful ways to give back to loved ones and to your neighbors. Here are six good deeds you can do this holiday season.
The holidays are a natural time to practice kindness and generosity. After all, an American essayist, Hamilton Wright Mabiea once said, “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” At Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology, we’re planning to spend the next 52 weeks showering our staff, cosmetology students and clients with appreciation as well as extending a helping hand to our neighbors, family and friends. If you want to join in, we’ve put together a list of simple good deeds to get you started.
1. Donate a Toy to Toys for Tots
Founded back in 1947, the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots charity has since distributed 548 million toys to 251 million children. Local Toys for Tots campaigns are conducted annually in over 800 communities through the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. This holiday season, Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology is collecting toys for the program. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to one of our beauty school campuses and we’ll even give you 10 percent off a beauty service.
2. Save Your Pop Tabs for Ronald McDonald House Charities
Since 1974, Ronald McDonald House Charities has helped millions of families with sick children find comfort and support during challenging times by providing meals and housing near treatment hospitals. This year, Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology began collecting pop tabs (from cans) for the charity—and you can help. Gather pop tabs from your family, friends and neighbors and drop them off at one of our beauty school campuses.
3. Give Your Old Mascara Wands to Wands for Wildlife
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology is also a drop off point for used mascara wands. Instead of tossing them in the trash when you do your monthly makeup bag clean out, bring them to one of our beauty school campuses. We’ll pass them on to Wands for Wildlife, a program run by the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge. They’ll use the wands to remove fly eggs and larva from the fur of animals in their care. Just think, your old mascara wand could have a second life combing a bunny, possum or baby duck!
4. Buy Your Holiday Gifts Through AmazonSmile
If you’re like millions of other shoppers, you’re probably going to order at least one gift through Amazon this year. But did you know you can give to charity in the process? Doing so is easy. Just log into your Amazon account through
5. Adopt a Military Family Through Soldiers’ Angels
Founded in 2003, Soldiers’ Angels has a 98 percent efficiency rating with most of every donation going towards program services. In 2017 alone, the charity provided over $17 million in aid to over 360,000 service members, veterans, wounded heroes and military families. During the holidays, they run an adopt-a-family program for military and veteran families who might not otherwise be able to afford to celebrate. There are currently more than 300 families waiting for adoption. Visit their website to learn more.
6. Send Holiday Cards to Lonely Seniors
Not every elderly person has children and grandchildren to care for them. Some are widows and widowers as well, and often find themselves spending the holidays alone. Even living in a senior community may not be enough to alleviate their loneliness. According to Love for the Elderly, 90 percent of seniors living in nursing facilities report feeling isolated and depressed. But you can help! Join Love for the Elderly’s Letters of Love campaign and the charity will distribute the letters and cards you write to seniors in need of a little holiday cheer.
By Angela Rose for Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology