When we volunteer our time and resources to others we not only bless those to whom we give, but also receive unexpected blessings ourselves. Get inspired to Give Back to your community by hearing stories of regular people who are open to serving those in need and the blessings they have experienced in return. You can make a difference in your community. Take the initiative to get involved. Teach your kids the value of serving others. Your actions could change the course of someone’s life for good. Listen now!

1. Volunteer for a local agency

Carol and Denise share how they give back through Rainbow Services, Inc. RSI is a pilot program serving their community to help people with mental illness and addictions. Sharon, the director, shares her passion for people struggling with mental illnesses. RSI is in need of donations – clothing, hangers, sample size personal care items, and more. Contact their office for more information at 913.956.5620.

2. Serve the Homeless

Jenny and her children made food and served a Thanksgiving meal to the homeless. She shares her story on today’s show.

Be sure to listen to Jenny as she shares how her family impacted a local nursing home at Easter. Heart breaking!

3. Make Blankets

Kate, her family and her sister’s family spent a day making blankets. Later this month they will all take them to a women and children’s shelter and experience giving them to the families there. She tells her story on today’s show.

4. Operation Christmas Child

We mentioned Operation Christmas Child and included links to videos and information on our post: 10 Ways to Incorporate Gratitude Into Your Thanksgiving Celebration. Lynae served this year and this is what she said about her experience giving back:

“We participated in filling boxes for Operation Christmas Child and we worked at the collection center. We helped others carry in their boxes and prayed over the boxes with the people who brought them asking the Lord to get that box to the exact child who needs it and that they will come to know Christ as their Savior.”

~ Lynae Wasson

5. See the Needs Around You

A friend of ours from church was at Quik Trip (a local gas station) recently and saw a soldier bent over the engine of his car.

She couldn’t forget him and his need for a more reliable car. After mentioning it on Facebook she raised $5000 for him. She didn’t even know him or where he lived! Read the rest of the story here! What I love about this story is Annette’s car was in need of repairs. Her heat didn’t work and neither did the locks yet she saw a greater need in someone else! Annette and her husband are returning home after adopting their second son from China this week.

Here are several more ideas to inspire us to give back.

Please add how you give back in the comments!

• Donate your car to Wheels for Wishes. Wheels For Wishes is a car donation program benefiting Make-A-Wish® Missouri. They offer a free and easy way to recycle or donate unwanted cars, trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, RVs, or even boats, by turning them into a wish for a local child. They pick-up or tow away cars free of charge whether they run or not. Vehicles are either recycled or auctioned off and 100% of the net proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Missouri.

You receive the maximum possible tax deduction for your charity vehicle donation. To donate and get more information call at 1-855-366-9474 or fill out our easy online vehicle donation form on the Wheels for Wishes website.

• Volunteer as a big brother or big sister. While in college I (Tracy) was a big sister to a young girl. After college I moved away. The following Christmas my real sister came to visit and brought my little sister with her. One evening we all got dressed up and went to the Nutcracker Ballet. It’s times like those I’ll never forget! Being able to give my little sis’ that experience was precious.
• Serve on the PTA at your children’s school.
• Serve at your local food pantry. Our boys basketball team serves as a team at Harvesters over Christmas break. We are thankful that the team focuses on giving back.
• Help a deployed serviceman/woman’s family with landscaping, painting or carpooling.
• Volunteer with Hospice.
• Follow Tracie’s idea from TSJ Photography and RACK people with Christmas kindness! She includes a free printable for you to download.

{Photo + Ideas from TSJ Photography}

• Megan from Millions of Miles started the tradition “12 Days of Christmas Kindness” where her family does 12 days of service projects leading up to Christmas. She shares 33 ideas here.

{Photo + Ideas from Millions of Miles}

• Make and keep Blessing  Bags available to give to the needy.

{Photo + idea from I Can Teach My Child}

• One year I (Tracy) took our Youth Group’s Drama Team to Steak and Shake (the restaurant) and had them bring extra money. While there we paid for people’s meals. The first meal we paid for, a girl and her daughter, left a note on the back of a place mat sharing what a blessing it was because life was a struggle .
• Sharing kindess = Giving Back. Here are 134 Random Acts of Kindness.

{Photo + Idea from AND then WE SAVED}

• I’m not very emotional but this post about how a blogger spent her 35th birthday performing 35 random acts of kindness made tears come to my eyes.

Are you inspired? We are! How will you give back this year?

Don’t forget to share ways you’ve given back or ideas you’d like to try in the comments below!