Four ways you can donate during the holiday season in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia

Out of all the holiday memories that I treasure, there’s one that brings me a sense of warmth more than all the rest. It’s the image of my dad ringing that familiar little bell we’ve all heard on the corner of every shopping center and mall.

The tinkling sound of that bell has become synonymous with giving, and when you hear it echo through the air and see that familiar red kettle you know that the holiday season has arrived.

Volunteering for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign was a yearly tradition for my father, donating a couple of hours of his time each holiday season.

This particular year he had worn his heaviest winter coat, and my little brother and I were bound up in our plushest jackets. We were so eager to help him this year, and by helping I mean my brother and I would each ring the bell for five minutes until our arms were too tired.

At the time I had no idea what it meant to be without a home or to not know where your next meal would come from. In the years as I grew up, I would witness just how real that issues was here on Delmarva.

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However, my naivety then didn’t stop me from noticing the small joy that this simple task was bringing people.

The number of children that would run up to drop a couple quarters into the kettle or the elderly couples that would come up to thank us for ringing the bell. 

We were giving our community the opportunity to give back, even in such a small way. I realized that all people want to give back; maybe they just don’t know how.

We were all so cold that year, standing on that corner, but I never doubted that we were doing good.

If there’s one thing that particular memory has taught me, it’s if there’s anything you can give, at least give your time.

Here are a few local non-profit organizations on Delmarva that need more than just financial donations, but volunteers to help them keep on giving:

The Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org): Continue the Christmas tradition and sign up to become a Red Kettle volunteer with your local Salvation Army.

Christmas Spirit Campaign (occhamberfoundation.org/spirit-christmas-campaign):  Coordinated by the Young Professionals of Ocean City, over 70 local children in need will be invited to a Christmas gift shopping event in December to pick out gifts for themselves or their family members. You can sign up to volunteer as a shopper or gift wrapper.

Maryland Food Bank: (mdfoodbank.org):
In 2017, the Maryland Food Bank’s Eastern Shore Branch distributed more than 5 million meals on Delmarva, proving itself to be a much needed entity here on the shore. You can volunteer at the Salisbury office or at a local farm that donates to the Food Bank.

Operation Christmas Child: (www.samaritanspurse.org) If you have a busy schedule, opt to donate goods or toys instead. Operation Christmas Child distributes shoebox gifts worldwide to girls and boys of all ages. If you don’t know what to put in your shoebox, check out the Samaritan Purse’s guide.