The Gift of Giving: Ways to Give Back This Holiday Season

by Richard Berman

The holidays are about more than just delicious meals, festive activities, and exchanging gifts. At their core, the season is meant to celebrate the true spirit of giving. It's a time to be a positive influence in your community, helping those who might be struggling. Here at The Berman Group, we encourage everyone to find ways to give back this year. Keep reading for some ideas on how you can make a difference!

Adopt a Child or Family

One of our favorite ways to give back is by adopting a child or family, ensuring they have gifts to open this holiday season. While many wish for toys or games, the majority of requests tend to be for everyday essentials like jackets, shoes, socks, and gloves.

If possible, consider adopting a single child or a group of siblings to ensure they all feel equally cared for.

The Children’s Cabinet – Each year, families and businesses collaborate to assist those in need. You choose the family size, and they ask for a minimum of $50 for each member. Learn more about adopting a family with The Children’s Cabinet here.

The Boys and Girls Club – Through their Holiday Help Program, hundreds of families are supported with gifts, clothing, toys, and household items. To adopt a family in the Reno-Sparks area for the 2023 Holiday Help program, contact Dina Ciarlo at holidayhelp@bgctm.org.

Safe Embrace – Children and families in need of support can be adopted through email or phone. To find out more, contact christmas@safeembrace.org or call 775-324-3766. You can specify your preferences for family size, individuals, or children, and they’ll match you with a family in need.

Adopt a Senior

If adopting a child feels like the right fit for you, why not consider adopting a senior? Many senior care facilities offer adoption programs where you can make someone’s holiday special. Or go through Be Santa To A Senior which focuses on giving in your local senior homes.

Donate to a Food Bank or Collection

Food Bank of Northern Nevada – The food drives listed are open to the public, and they welcome donations to help reach their goals. Many of these drives are hosted by local businesses, so your support directly benefits the community.

Most needed items:

Canned vegetables (low sodium or no salt added)
Canned meals (soups, stews, spaghetti, etc.)
Protein (peanut butter, canned tuna, chicken, dried beans)
Grains (whole grain cereal, oatmeal, brown rice)
Canned fruits (in 100% juice or light syrup)
Dairy (shelf-stable milk)
Baby products (formula, baby food, infant cereal)

Karma Box – This community initiative provides non-perishable food, first aid supplies, and toiletries to those in need year-round. Several Karma Boxes are placed around Northern Nevada. Find one near you here.

Raley’s Food for Families – When you donate to Food For Families, your $10 contribution can provide over 20 nutritious meals to neighbors in need. All donations stay local. You can donate online or at your nearest Raley's store.

Involve Your Family

Teaching kids about charity and generosity during the holidays is a wonderful way to instill values of kindness and empathy. Here are some family-friendly activities to get everyone involved:

Toy Drive Surprise: Have your kids go through their toys and pick out items they no longer use. Donate them to a local charity or organize a toy drive in your community.
Bake and Share: Spend a day baking cookies or other treats. Share them with neighbors, local firefighters, or elderly community members.
Family Volunteer Day: Volunteer as a family at local shelters or food banks. Whether serving meals or helping with clean-up projects, your time can make a real difference.
Holiday Card Workshop: Set up a station to make handmade holiday cards. Deliver them to nursing homes, hospitals, or military personnel.
Donation Jar Challenge: Give each family member a donation jar. Throughout the holiday season, encourage everyone to add spare change. At the end, donate the funds to a charity of your choice.
Visit a Senior Center: Organize a visit to a local senior center. Your kids can interact with elderly residents, play games, or just enjoy each other’s company.
Meal Kit Assembly: Put together meal kits with non-perishable food and donate them to a food bank or shelter.
Nature Clean-Up: Take a family walk in nature, bringing along trash bags to help clean up a park or trail.
Read for a Cause: Host a family reading night where each book read contributes a small donation to a charity or local school.

Giving Back Beyond the Holidays

Although the holiday season brings a special focus to giving, it’s important to remember that kindness and generosity should extend throughout the year. Find a cause that excites you and consider volunteering or donating regularly. Many of the organizations we mentioned above welcome help year-round. At The Berman Group, we dedicate our time to the Reno Rodeo Foundation, Boys and Girls Club and other local initiatives as our way of giving back to our community.