4 meaningful ways to celebrate the holidays this year

The holidays are a time for merriment, family, friends and giving. Yet, as we all face another challenging holiday season, it can be an especially hard time for many families in our communities.

Luckily, there are a lot of great ways to feel the holiday spirit and help our neighbors, especially if you are opting for a scaled back get-together or don’t celebrate at all. You can donate your time to a worthy cause, chip in a few dollars to your favorite charity, or even convince that last hold out in your family to get their booster shot. 

If you’re still looking for a few meaningful ways to enjoy the holidays this year, we compiled a quick list of ideas for you to consider. Enjoy!

Volunteer at a food bank

Many of us have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season, yet too many families will find themselves at a food bank in search of a holiday meal. Last year, the number of people facing hunger rose to 38 million, including nearly 12 million children.

That’s why during the Thanksgiving holiday CREDO donated 250,000 meals through our partnership with Feeding America as our very small way of giving back.

This year, consider donating your time to a local food bank to help make a difference for families struggling with hunger this holiday season. Our partners at Feeding America have some great tips to help you get started during this popular time of year to give back to your community.

Accompany a loved one to a vaccination appointment

As the pandemic persists, public health officials continue to offer caution regarding gathering for the holidays, and urge people to assess their own risk factors based on personal circumstances.

One point, however, is very clear: vaccines are important to protect yourself and your loved ones and recommended for people attending holiday gatherings. The CDC continues to recommend that everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated to do so, and anyone who is eligible to receive a booster shot, to make an appointment.

But you may know a loved one who has yet to be vaccinated, for any number of reasons. The holidays could be a great time to have a conversation with them about it. Here are some tips from UCLA and UNICEF about how to approach these kinds of conversations.

Or you may know an older relative or neighbor who still hasn’t received their booster. Consider asking them if they need help making an appointment or if they need a lift or would like some company when they go.

Donate to your favorite causes

The holidays are a time for giving, including to our favorite causes. Here at CREDO, we understand the importance of giving back to our communities by donating every month to causes that empower climate justice, civil rights and economic justice.

During the holidays, many people spread the holiday cheer to their favorite charities and non-profits with year-end giving. If you’re ever looking for an organization to give to, CREDO has vetted and donated to hundreds of organizations that work on the frontlines of climate justice, economic equality, voting rights, reproductive justice, peace and much more. 

Visit https://www.credodonations.com/organizations/ to see all the organizations our members have helped us fund. If you’re a CREDO customer, you have likely helped to fund many of these organizations just by using our products everyday! 

Vote to help distribute CREDO’s December donation

Speaking of CREDO’s grantees, here’s a quick way to make a difference this holiday season: Vote right now to help us distribute our monthly donation among three amazing progressive groups.

This month, you can help fund climate justice, women’s rights and voting rights by casting your vote for Carbon 180, NARAL Pro-Choice America and Vote.org. It’s quick and easy and you’ll do your part to help these great groups. Just visit CREDODonations.com and cast your ballot today!

And as always, CREDO members who use our products are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month — at no extra cost to our customers.