Giving Back While Social Distancing

Nov 23, 2020

By Melissa Klingbiel

With coronavirus cases surging as we head towards the holiday season, our typical Thanksgiving gathering might look slightly different in 2020. One of the simplest ways to give back this year is by keeping your friends, family and community members safe by staying at home.

Another fallout from the global pandemic is its effect on the U.S. economy and workforce. With many individuals experiencing loss of employment, there are plenty of people who could use an extra hand this year – even if it is from a distance. Here are some ways that you can give back safely this holiday season:

  • Organize a drive in your community. Think about what your community needs. Are families struggling to feed themselves? Do they need warm clothes and blankets as the weather gets colder? Masks and hand sanitizer to keep them healthy and safe? Coordinate with others in the community to set up drop locations and deliver to local charitable organizations that will disseminate donations to those in need.
  • Sponsor a family in need by providing them with a monthly box of groceries via Family-to-Family.
  • Donate to a local food bank. Find food banks near you through Feeding America.
  • Deliver food to a homebound senior via Meals on Wheels. Many seniors have dealt with isolation and loneliness due to being at higher risk for COVID-19. While physically visiting with the elderly may not be safe, you may be able to set up a call or become a pen pal to a senior. Contact a local assisted living facility to learn about your options.
  • Make a monetary donation. Giving Tuesday is just around the corner from Black Friday. Find an organization that means something to you and donate. Consider setting up a recurring donation to give back all year round.
  • Shop small this holiday season. Small businesses also have been hit hard by the pandemic this year. Skip the big box stores and support small businesses in your community when doing your holiday shopping. Support your favorite local restaurants by purchasing gift cards to use at a later date.

I would encourage everyone who can give back this holiday season to do so, and to get your friends and family involved as well! Let’s remember that this year has been hard on everyone emotionally, so giving back can also mean checking in on a friend, calling a family member you haven’t heard from in a while, or taking time for self-care. Here’s to #givingthanks #givingback and #stayingsafe this holiday season.

About the Author
Melissa Klingbiel is channel manager at Mobile Solutions, a SaaS company that provides full life-cycle Managed Mobility Services, including procurement, staging and kitting, real-time expense management, business analytics and reporting, account optimization, 24/7 U.S.-based support, unified endpoint management and device reclamation services.