As the holiday season approaches, the spirit of generosity is widespread with individuals and organizations alike looking for ways they can give back in their community and beyond. Nonprofit leaders and staff might be looking for ways they can give back to their community.

The following list provides some ideas on how nonprofit organizations can lend a hand during the holiday season:

1. Collect toys. This is one of the most popular charitable efforts during the holiday season—many families are eager to find toy drives so they can involve their children in the shopping. If your nonprofit operates in a physical building, that means you have a ready-made space where people can drop off their donations. You can then deliver everything you have collected to Toys for Tots or another local organization that distributes toys to children in need.
2. Visit a local nursing home or assisted living facility. When you organize such a trip, you can fulfill two functions for the people who work or volunteer at your nonprofit: You give them an opening to make a difference in local seniors’ lives, and you create an opportunity for them to have fun together in a group outing.
3. Organize a blood drive. Blood banks across the county are experiencing shortages, and they are always looking for organizations to host blood drives. As a nonprofit, you may have access to a wide network of people—people who might not consider donating blood unless you make it convenient for them. A blood drive is one of the simplest ways to give to your community without spending any money at all.
4. Collect food for those who are having trouble making ends meet. Consider partnering with a local food bank. When you work directly with them, they can share their most dire needs with you, and you can then focus on filling those needs. Community members are more likely to donate to a food drive during the holidays, so time is on your side.
5. Adopt a family or child for the holidays. Depending on the size of your organization, you could adopt a family (or several families), supporting them with gifts and gift cards for food. It might be particularly fun for your staff members or volunteers to each pick a gift item they will cover. Together, you can create a wonderful holiday for a family in need.

To access additional information, resources, tips and more for nonprofit and human services organizations, visit blog.churchmutual.com/NPHS.