The holiday season is filled with so many small moments of joy. We often find ourselves surrounded by our friends, family, and loved ones, sharing traditions, gifts, and making incredibly meaningful memories. In fact, the holidays can be one of the most meaningful times of the year for many reasons; we even covered this topic in a recent blog! But because we believe that there are so many ways to make this time of the year special, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 things you can do to give back to your community this holiday season.

1) Donate to a cause that’s close to your heart

Have you always been passionate about a certain cause? Food insecurity? Animal welfare? The environment? The holidays are often a time of great need for many charities and organizations, so, if you can afford to, now is often one of the best times to donate.

Though we’ve given you some suggestions on what some great options might be in our previous blog, the Toronto Holiday Wishlist might be a great place to start!

2) Donate blood

As the Red Cross says, “There’s still no substitute for blood... [and] blood donations are needed all year”. Especially when demand is so high during the holidays, donating blood can be an excellent way to giveback in an extremely meaningful way to your community. Not sure how to start? Find donation centers near you and check if you’re eligible with Canadian Blood Services.

3) Donate clothes

We’re all familiar with spring cleaning-well what about some “winter cleaning”? With the end of the year may come a fantastic opportunity to clear out some old clothes, free-up some closet space, and make a difference in your community. Many communities have drop off centers or boxes, and stores, such as Value Village, are always accepting donations - but there are plenty more places in need inToronto! In fact, Diary of a Toronto Girl identifies some of the top spots in Toronto to donate your clothes, including:

- New Circles

- Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy

- Oasis Clothing Bank

- Jessie’s Centre

4) Volunteer in your community

Our communities are often filled with many organizations and places that could always use an extra volunteer or two - especially during the busyness of the holiday season. Whether it’s at a local school, food bank, or even a holiday specific organization, such as Holiday Helpers, giving a little bit of your time to a cause that needs it can often be one of the biggest gifts of all.

5) Random acts of kindness

Consider paying for the coffee of the person behind you at a drive-through, lending a neighbor a hand, or even complimenting a stranger on your next outing. Sometimes we forget that the smallest acts can make the biggest difference in our lives, and truly make someone's day, week, or even year. So don’t forget the small stuff!

However you choose to give back this season, know that all of us here at Park Property are sending you the warmest wishes and the very happiest of holidays!