As you reflect this holiday season on what to give to those you love, it is also a good idea to reflect on how you can give back to those in need. Dec. 5 is International Volunteer Day. Volunteering is an opportunity to serve and give compassion and care to others.
If the gift of time is not something you can give this year, there are other ways to volunteer, one way is to build meal gift baskets for those who may not be able to have a traditional gathering. Be mindful of the items such as cake mix, which will need eggs and milk which are rarely found at the local food bank.
Some items to consider donating are:
- Eggs
- Milk (powdered milk)
- Cheese
- Cranberry sauce
- Canned vegetables
- Olive or canola oil
- Crackers
- Dried spices
- Instant mashed potatoes
- Peanut butter
- Rice
Aside from food and baked goods, you can also give back to your community by donating gently used or new winter apparel to families in need. Some hospitals may have clothing closets that accept donations to give to patients who come in for trauma where their clothes have to be removed for treatment. Instead of sending the patient out in scrubs, they can send them home in weather appropriate clothing.
If you’re not sure what to give or just don’t have the time to go through your closet, you can always make a monetary donation to your favorite charity or organization. Consider donating to UofL Health and UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center, a national leader in the development of technologies that activate patients’ immune systems against their cancers. Visit UofLBrownCancerCenter.org/Support
Interested in becoming a volunteer with UofL Health? Consider volunteering for UofL Health – UofL Hospital and Brown Cancer Center. To learn more information, visit UofLHospital.org/Volunteer-Information.
