Help those in need without spending a dime

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Giving to charity can be difficult when your not making much yourself.  We all want to help others, but simply can't risk jeopardizing ourselves  in the process.  Donating money isn't the only way to help those in need.  By donating your time, knowledge, connections and skills, you too can help someone in need.  This will not only help them gain a better hand, it will help you give back to the community without breaking into paycheck.  This will cost you time and labor, however, the gratification you will receive (as well as those in need) is worth the time and effort.  Here are a couple ways that you can help.

Donate your time at a local shelter- Homeless shelters and soup kitchens are always looking for volunteers.  Most of the tasks that need to be done are simple, such as preparing the food, serving the homeless, sweeping, mopping and doing dishes.  Donating a couple hours of your time will make the world of a difference in someone else's.

Help the homeless fill out job applications- Find a job can be hard for anyone.  The homeless have many job skills they want to show off.  They just have a hard time presenting themselves to employers.  While physical presentation is very important, so are communication skills.  Like many of us who fall on hard times, we tend to under-mind and underestimate ourselves.  A fresh eye can help shed light on areas that need to be tweaked.

Teach the homeless how to read and write- It's difficult to take advantage of opportunities for advancement when a person can't read and write or can't do it well.  Sharing your knowledge with others is a great opportunity to extended a helping hand.  Local shelters can direct you towards facilities to do this.


With the holiday season soon approaching, many shelters will be in need of any and all services you wish to participate in.  Although many families are homeless due to the poor economy, many are alone and would love to know that they are thought about during the busiest seasons.

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• Feeling Generous? Homeless Man Donates $2,500 to Charity (homelessness.change.org)
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• Making Donations to a Nonprofit Company (thinkup.waldenu.edu)
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