I was sitting in my home office working the Monday before Thanksgiving when my doorbell rang unexpectedly. It was a realtor I had recently met at an open house down the street. We had hit it off, talking about the neighborhood, life plans, kids, and more. I ran into her again two months later at the store with her son, who has special needs. I had spent about a decade of my career working with special needs adults. I said hello and we exchanged pleasantries, and that was that.
Well, this morning before Thanksgiving, she was standing at my door with an apple crumb pecan pie from a nearby bakery. She said she was delivering the pies to clients, but I had been so kind to her at the store that she wanted my family to have a pie as well. My husband joked that she just wanted our business someday, but I said no – we had spoken about how my son and future daughter-in-law were both realtors, so that wasn’t it. She was just making a simple gesture to give back during the holidays. I honestly started to tear up at the thoughtfulness of this person whom I had only met a few times.
Giving back…what a great concept. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone out there did a little something to give back during the holidays? Rounding up your grocery bill to help those in need, donating to a food pantry, or participating in an Angel Tree program. These are all small, simple ways that we as individuals can give back.
Nonprofit organizations give back in many different ways throughout the year, both big and small. During the busy holiday season, when many organizations are focused on year-end fundraising campaigns, it’s easy to overlook the donors and volunteers who support them. But even during the busiest time of the year, there are some simple actions that nonprofits can take to thank their supporters, engage their community, and grow goodwill. Some easy, affordable holiday gestures include:
Volunteer appreciation event with coffee and cookies
Year-end thank-you cards
Design small ornaments or seasonal decorations for donors and supporters
Host an office “open house” for the local community
Gift-wrapping party
A free, downloadable digital photo album for volunteers
Year-end thank-you video
Thanking donors and supporters on social media
For individuals and nonprofits alike, it’s important to thank people for their kindness, generosity, and time. A little gesture can go a long way in making others feel appreciated!