Give Yourself the Gift of Giving

This is the time of year when we give thanks for what we have and think about others. The holidays are traditionally a time of gratitude, giving and guilt. The guilt can be from throwing out a great-aunt’s fruitcake, selling the ugly sweater re-gifted from your roommate on Craigslist, or just knowing others are in need. It’s easy to assuage guilt and do the right things. Everyone has something to give back to the world, whether it is writing a large check or a gift of time or friendship. Some give out of gratitude and some from guilt and some from the goodness of their heart. Often it is from all three. However, it really doesn’t matter because it all counts towards making the world a better place. Here are some great options.T

Can’d Aid Foundation

This is not your typical foundation and neither are its people. Started as an immediate response to the devastating floods that nearly destroyed the hometowns of Dale Katechis and most of his employees CAN’d aid has been instrumental in starting to rebuild those communities. Over the flood? CAN’d Aid also has helped support musicians such as the Infamous Stringdusters (see their video on the CAN’d Aid website). They also support the multi-stage, multi-day annual Enduro mountain bike series. They also support Novelis, an aluminum company, as well as many other ideas, companies and people. They usually decide together over one of the many beers (and/or rootbeer) Oskar Blues brews. foundation.oskarblues.com

Be More Social

You know them for their fairly-traded roasts that coffee purists geek out over. But look to the other side of the menu (the less-caffeinated one) and you’ll find cacao drinks. Cacao, the seed from which chocolate is made, is delicious once ground into a (drinkable) powder—especially once Ozo gets a hold of it and creates their thick, slightly tart concoction. Perfect for warming you from the inside-out on squally days, you can nurse a mug of it at any of their Boulder locations. (ozocoffee.com, 303.440.0233, Boulder)

Feed the Homless Kids

The non-profit StandUp for Kids in Denver makes serving a meal to homeless kids easier. If your calendar is busy they offer a one-time volunteer opportunity to coordinate a warm meal for the homeless youth of Colorado. This is only on Sundays. A team of about four to eight people is needed. According to their website about 30 to 50 kids show up to eat. StandUp for Kids is a national non-profit charity founded in 1990 by a group of volunteers in San Diego, Calif. According to their statistics if all the homeless youth lived in one city in America it would be the largest city in the United States. Go to their website for more information and after signing up Stand up for Kids will contact you with additional information. www.standupforkids.org.

Volunteer in a Cemetary

Some people like cemeteries. Plus, it isn’t the volunteer job your friends are probably doing and it will get you noticed on a resume. You don’t need to dig holes, in fact, there are a variety of different volunteer positions. The Fairmont Heritage Foundation is the official steward for the preservation of Riverside and Fairmount Cemeteries. They offer volunteer positions from archive conservation, Fairmount Arboretum, Heritage Roses, Preservation, Riverside Revival, tours, Urban Wildlife and Special Projects.

Their website says volunteering with them is for people who love art, history landscape and history. The Heritage Foundation is located at 430 S. Quebec Street in Denver, fairmountheritagefoundation.org/volunteer/.

Full of Beans

The Women’s Bean Project in Denver needs outside sales help. Help support a 25-year old non-profit organization that promotes job readiness and teaches the life skills needed to find and keep employment for chronically unemployed and impoverished women.

Volunteers staff tables and act as Bean Project representatives while selling bean soups and baskets. According to the Bean Project this opportunity is by far their greatest need. A majority of the events take place on the weekends and the shifts run from three to four hours. If you can’t volunteer you can shop at their store in the Denver area.

It’s at 3201 Curtis Street in the old Firehouse number 10 building. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Call 303-292-1919 to order by phone or check out their website at www.womensbeanproject.com.

Adopt-a-County Road

This isn’t just an Adopt-a-Road program but a county road adoption program. These roads are often less traveled than city roads or highways. However, keeping roads clean isn’t what it used to be. First, volunteers must watch a “Meth Lab Recognition” video “for the safety of everyone cleaning up the roadways,” according to their website. You must sign a waiver as well stating that you have watched the methamphetamine video. The video which lasts almost eight minutes is posted on their website along with the waiver. www.bouldercounty.org/roads/driveways/pages/adoptacountyrd.aspx

Be a Friend to your Library

Libraries are one of the last places on earth that don’t care how much money you have, what your job is, your age or the color of your skin. Everyone is welcome and everyone can share in the computers, e-books, magazines, programs, and yes, even books, that the library offers. Libraries are for everyone. Most libraries offer free computer time, and there are many people who still don’t have their own computer. Computer are necessary to find and apply for jobs, to find places to live and to work on skills necessary to have and keep a job. Then there are patrons who want to use Facebook or email loved ones in far away places. So, consider supporting your library with donations of books, or even join the “Friends of the Library Group.” Donations vary from library to library. At the Broomfield Public Library you can be a “friend” for $12 and at Denver Public Library it is $50 to be a “friend.” Check your local library for specifics. For those who can’t get your books back on time consider paying your late fines. Or ask what they need.

Visit the Elderly

Call your local assisted living or nursing home and visit with some old people. If your parents or grandparents live far away, or if your relationship is less than ideal don’t short yourself of a valuable intergenerational experience. Many elderly people are lonely and our nation, as a whole doesn’t value what the elderly have to offer. Ignore their wrinkles, renew your commitment to sunscreen and make a new friend. What the elderly have to offer is their life stories. Some stories are hilarious, some are heartbreaking and all have history, love, and adventure. Prepare to look at pictures of people you don’t know. It will change your life to spend an afternoon with an elderly person. Plan on spending at least an hour because once they get talking, once someone actually notices them, then they have a lot to say. It doesn’t have to be a regular gig but it can brighten someone’s world for a long time.

Ask Around

Some people aren’t team players, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to help. Some people want to do good but they just don’t want to sign up for a group, get on an email list or get roped into a schedule. The solution to this is just to “ask around.” That is, ask your friends and neighbors what needs doing. Or just use your eyes. It’s likely the elderly couple next door need someone to shovel their sidewalk. Maybe your neighbor’s dog tha-t always barks just needs a walk. Or just pick up some trash that’s laying around the park. There’s a lot of unofficial ways to help.

Hops to it

Volunteer with beer. Not everyone in the Vail Valley is wealthy so if mountains and beer speak to you (do you live in Colorado?) volunteer for the 15th annual Big Beer, Belgians and Barleywine Festival in Vail this January 8-10th. It supports the Vail Valley Foundation and in exchange only pay half the price of general admission to the Commercial Tasting and Seminars. It’s a beer volunteer-cation for those who are serious about their charity and brews. vvcf.org/events-and-fundraisers/

Start a Food Drive at Work

Dog food, cat food, people food – its all food and it all helps. Any shelter, human or animal, will appreciate the donation. Talk to your boss and if they have something set up for humans start something for animals. It’s easy, just set up a cardboard box, send out an email or put up a sign. When the box is full take it where you want it to go. Plus, you’ll get bonus points at work. Think about doing this especially if it isn’t something you’d normally do – it keeps people on their toes and will probably leave a positive impression on your boss and co-workers.

Get Moving

Race for the cure, spend a weekend on your bike for Multiple Sclerosis, or Walk with Autism. Pick your favorite cause or your favorite (or least painful) exercise and go for it. There is something at every level for every person. Even if your event isn’t until the spring you can usually sign up now and start training. Brag to your friends and get a group together. This is a wonderful win-win because it promotes health as well as contributes to whatever cause you find worthwhile. If you don’t see a cause that you believe in then maybe you can organize your own athletic event for your own cause — whether it is bowling, hockey, cross country skiing or beer pong.

You can find information on at: Bike for Multiple Sclerosis, Race for the Cure, and Walk with Autism.