Ways to give back this season

Deck the Halls – Offer to decorate an assisted living home, group home or nursing/rehabilitation center in your neighborhood for the holidays. Providing festive entertainment, like a tree-trimming party or Christmas carol sing-along is sure to brighten their season.

Make Treats for Non Profit Agencies – Contact your favorite nonprofit organization that provides a much needed service and make snacks, a lunchtime meal, or a batch of your signature holiday sweet-treats for the employees of that organization.

Grant a Wish – Find a “Wish Tree” or “Angel Tree” and purchase a gift for someone less fortunate or ask a nonprofit agency that serves your favorite cause for a “wish list”.

Adopt a Service Person – Help make being away from home a little easier by sending a holiday greeting card to our armed service men and women or adopt a local veteran or family who has a loved one overseas in the military. Visit one of these websites for ideas: www.ourmilitary.mil, www.adoptaplatoon.org, www.forgottensoldiers.org.

Grocery Shop – Next time you’re out grocery shopping, buy extra canned goods and holiday meal items to donate to an area shelter or food banks.

Support Utility Payment Assistance – There is a great need during the winter months for utility payment assistance so that families and individuals can keep their heat and lights on. Donate financially to a local agency that assists those with utility payment needs. For more information, call United Way’s 2-1-1.

Give the “Gift of Life” – For American Red Cross blood drive schedules in your area, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE and schedule an appointment.

Be a Santa to a Senior – Sponsored by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Chick-fil-A, Harmony Care Hospice and Home Instead Inc., the program has identified lonely and needy seniors whose names and gift requests will be placed on a Christmas tree at Chick-fil-A, 229 Bush River Road. Stop by and pick up an ornament, purchase a gift, wrap and drop it off at Harmony Care Hospice, 100-K Ashland Park Lane (off St. Andrews Road in Columbia). Gifts will be delivered Dec. 19-23. (803) 772-8505

LEXINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT TOY DRIVE -  Deputies will be at Walmart Supercenter, 1780 S. Lake Drive from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. New unwrapped toys will be accepted for needy Lexington County children; toys will also be provided to the Salvation Army and distributed to patients at the Children’s Hospital at Palmetto Health Richland. Donations may be dropped off at the Sheriff’s Department until Thursday, Dec. 24.

LEXINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT/MIDLANDS TOYS FOR TOTS -  Accepting new, unwrapped toys through Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Lexington Municipal Complex, 111 Maiden Lane. Help stuff the SWAT van 7-10 a.m. Tuesday and 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at Walmart, 5556 Sunset Blvd. Officers will be on hand 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 and 7-10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at Kmart, 748 W. Main St. For more information, call Cpl. Doug Lee, (803) 358-1504.

CAROLINA CHILDREN’S HOME - There are several ways to brighten a child’s Christmas this year. When you sponsor a child, you may purchase any or all of the items on their gift list. Cottage sponsors may purchase a gift that all of the residents can enjoy or group gifts such as movie passes, gift certificates for haircuts or manicures. You can donate your time by volunteering to wrap gifts on campus during December. A donation of $10 or more through the Guardian Angel Project will honor a loved one through a personalized letter, a bookmark and a note indicating you as the giver. (803) 790-6541, ext. 216 or www.carolinachildrenshome.org

If you know of other ways people can give back around the state, let us know and we’ll list them here!