We’ve all been through a lot this year. And while most people look forward to the holiday season as a way to spend time with family and friends and enjoy the festivities, there are still countless individuals experiencing hardships. Some have lost their jobs or homes, and others are barely holding on, living paycheck to paycheck. 

Many individuals and businesses worldwide celebrate the holiday season by stepping up to help out their neighbors in need. In 2020, charitable donations on Giving Tuesday (a global day of charity that occurs the Tuesday after Thanksgiving) were up 29%, proving that despite the constraints from Covid19, people everywhere found ways to give back. 

By reassessing your holiday budget to allow for financial donations or opting to give your time or possessions, you, too, can incorporate a Giving Back Fund into your holiday plans to help those in need. 

Create a Budget for this Giving Season

There are a lot of expenses during the holiday season. The best way you can ensure you’re able to give is by working it into your budget. 

Start by assessing your current holiday budget. Are there any categories you can pull from to reallocate towards charity? For example, making gifts instead of buying them or opting for a no-gift party with friends are great ways to trim costs so those funds can be used elsewhere.  

Fill your Giving Back Fund with Non-Monetary Donations 

While many people prefer to contribute financially, that isn’t the only way to donate this giving season. 

You could also donate your time or possessions! For some, this looks like donating their gently-used items or baked goods to shelters. For others, giving comes in the form of donating their time. This could mean volunteering at soup kitchens, shelters, and other non-profit events aimed to help the community. 

One spending-free way to enjoy time with family and friends while also positively impacting your community is to host a giving back party. 

A tight budget doesn’t have to get in the way of giving back to your community. 

At DEXSTA Federal Credit Union, Giving Back is In Our DNA

As a not-for-profit financial institution, giving back to our community is foundational to our mission. With affordable loan options and benefit-rich banking solutions, we’re committed to serving our communities in New Castle and Kent County, Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland. 

You can learn more about our institution’s history and the benefits of banking with a Credit Union here.