The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to give back. Giving back to the community you work or live in can help generate a positive movement for change. But did you know that it goes beyond that? Giving back can also increase our well-being! There’s a lot you can do to give back to your community, but today we’re going to highlight five of our favorite ways.

01 Donate your time

Donating your time can consist of volunteering at your local homeless shelter or even an animal shelter. Most shelters have few regular employees and rely on volunteers. Senior living facilities are another great way to donate your time and to help prevent people from feeling isolated.

02 Random act of kindness

Helping a neighbor rake the leaves or paying it forward is a great way to give back to your community and keep spirits high throughout the holiday season. When we make time to help the people around us, that positivity can only grow.

03 Recycle

Giving back can also mean giving back to the Earth. Many businesses and larger cities have public recycling bins scattered around to make this a little bit easier to achieve. There are typically recycling centers located in all major cities to help with pollution or trash buildup. Another great random act of kindness that can spread positivity is picking up trash on the sidewalks or the sides of the road when you see it.

04 Help a child in need

Answer a child’s letter to Santa by clicking here or donate a toy to Toys for Tots. Looking for more organizations? Together We Rise is another great option that helps give to children living in foster care. Click here to learn more.

05 Support local businesses during the holiday season

A great way to give back to the community is to shop at local small businesses, which directly supports the people in your community and promotes economic growth.