For anyone with a heart for giving back, or looking for ways to extend a helping hand to those less fortunate, especially this winter, here are a few initiatives one could utilize.
Numerous South Africans and those in need are fed via soup kitchens and feeding programs. These kitchens, whether they operate through charity or schools, rely on donations and volunteer support. You can ensure that someone has a warm meal in their stomach before they go to sleep by helping these organizations with food donations, cash contributions, or volunteer labour.
According to the Good Things Guy, an online news organisation, meal packets can provide a healthy dinner for four individuals at a cost that is reasonable for the giver. The meal packets can consist of non-perishable ingredients that are affordable and high in nutrition. “If a contributor buys these in large quantities, they can make numerous bags. They make excellent gifts for car guards, beggars, and grocery delivery drivers,” notes the above publication.
Another way of giving back this winter is donating warm items of clothing such as knitted hats, scarfs, blankets and jackets. One can hand these out to homeless people or donate to a charity that needs them.
You might know of someone from a local township whose house gets leaky when it rains, you can help them fix the leaking parts of the roof and some cracks on the walls that need to be sealed. It doesn’t have to be much, just a few patches here and there and their home is safe and dry.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Long Island suggests making winter wellness kits with necessities like socks, lip balm, hand warmers, and nonperishable snacks. “Give these packages to people who are facing homelessness or financial difficulties. Collaborate with nearby companies or civic associations to procure materials and put together the kits,” says the above-mentioned organisation.
Another idea suggested by the organisation is that you can sacrifice your time and visit elderly people that you know live alone just to give them a sense of warmth. For an elderly person, it can be hard to wake up on cold winter mornings and do house chores. You can dedicate a week where you go to their houses in the morning, make them breakfast, engage in conversations with them, buy groceries, do their laundry, play chess, listen to jazz music, and everything that warms their hearts. One can do the same to you moms who live alone, to ease up the pressure on their shoulders.
Also see: Veggies you can grow in to make a ‘juice garden’
