50 Ways to Pay It Forward This Holiday Season

Put a little bit more than your loose change in the Salvation Army bucket. It's easy to empty the coins from your pocket, but go a step further and actually open your wallet. You probably won't notice the difference anyway.

Photo via Flickr/San King

Write a happy holidays note to overseas troops. No matter what your position on war or the military might be, it's hard to debate that being far away from home during the holiday season is difficult. Maybe your personal note will make it a little easier for someone.

Photo via Flickr/Harrisburg U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion

Bake cookies for everyone who helps you out during the year—your barista, the front desk employees at your kid's school, the parking attendant at your favorite restaurant who always pulls your car around quickly. Think about the people who aren't usually thanked, but definitely deserve it.

Photo via Flickr/Svante Adermark

Sign up to sing carols at a senior living facility or nursing home, and bring your kids along. This is a great way to bring a sense of community to people who might otherwise be alone.

Photo via Flickr/USAG- Humphreys

Grab an extra coffee in the morning and bring it to the school crossing guard. He or she will appreciate knowing someone is thinking about them just as much as they'll appreciate a hot drink to stay warm.

Photo via Flickr/Pam Lane

Learn to knit with your kids and make hats, scarves and mittens to donate. This is a creative way to have a little fun and teach your children about true holiday spirit.

Photo via Flickr/Michael Newton

Instead of asking for gifts you don't really need, request that a donation be made in your name to a cause you care about. Encourage your kids to do the same, and make it a learning experience by helping them research charities to support.

Photo via Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture

As you make your way through crowded holiday airports, smile at the TSA workers and thank them for their service. As gruff as they may come across, can you even imagine what it's like having to deal with long lines of anxious holiday travelers? Your smile really can make a difference in their day.

Photo via Flickr/alist

Invite friends of another faith over for a holiday dinner. Everyone likes having somewhere to go on special days, even if they don't directly observe those occasions. This is also a great way to teach people about different traditions and increase overall understanding.

Photo via Flickr/Howard Chalkley

Help your kids create handmade cards for all their teachers, each with a personal message. It's all about the thought! Teachers love hearing that they've made a difference.

Photo via Flickr/ecooper99

Start a new holiday tradition of spending the morning helping out at a soup kitchen or with Meals on Wheels. Of course, you'll be providing a valuable service to people in need, but you'll also be helping your own kids learn about service and gratitude.

Photo via Flickr/Ben Faulding

When you see a knocked-over luminaria, stop and fix it—even if you're driving. This is a no-cost, super-simple way to keep the neighborhood safe and everyone's spirits bright.

Photo via Flickr/Adam

Shop for holiday presents at Goodwill or other local charity thrift stores. You can still find awesome stuff, and the money you spend will go toward a good cause.

Photo via Flickr/Brad.K

Ask your kid's teacher if you can provide support during the class holiday party. They'll appreciate the extra help, and the entire class will enjoy the celebration. You'll also get to spend a little more time than normal with your kid.

Photo via Flickr/Angie Linder

Contact a local university and ask if they're looking for holiday hosts for international or far-from-home students. Even if a young person can't get to their own home for the holidays, spending it with any family at all is nicer than being in an empty dorm.

Photo via Flickr/Emily

When cooking your holiday meal, make an extra batch of whatever might freeze well and deliver it to an elderly neighbor. Even one less meal to worry about is a huge help.

Photo via Flickr/Mack Male

Offer to drive your neighbors to or from the airport when they leave town for the holidays. Yes, airport traffic can be a pain, but just look at it as extra bonding time (and part of your good deed).

Photo via Flickr/Grant Wickes

For every new item you receive as a present, donate one old one to charity. Have the rest of your family do the same, and bring them with you when you go to drop off the items. Seeing the impact of their generosity will help your kids be proud of what they've done.

Photo via Flickr/Andrew Butitta

Join a Toys for Tots holiday gift wrapping session. Even if you can't manage to donate, you can still help children in need wake up to gifts on Christmas morning by spending a few hours wrapping presents. Your time is worth just as much as your money.

Photo via Flickr/woodleywonderworks

Spend one winter break morning with your kids picking up litter at a local park, trail or beach. Treat it like a treasure hunt and it'll feel like a big game for your children. The time outside will do everyone good. Just make sure everyone wears gloves or something to protect their hands.

Photo via Flickr/Owen P

Take your kids on a trip around the block to pick up used batteries from your neighbors, then recycle them properly. It's a chance to help the environment and get to know the people in your community all at the same time.

Photo via Flickr/Kevin Doncaster

Pack up whatever leftovers you have after your holiday meal and instead of sticking them in the freezer or throwing them out, deliver them to the on-duty officers at your local fire station. You don't really want to eat the same thing for dinner three days in a row anyway, and they'll appreciate the thought.

Photo via Flickr/Brian Vallelunga

Give a generous tip to any Uber or Lyft driver you take. If someone's driving on Thanksgiving or Christmas, they could probably really use the extra cash.

Photo via Flickr/Mark Warner

When you see a home with particularly beautiful holiday lights, write a note letting them know how much you appreciate them and stick it in the mailbox. Who wouldn't love hearing that their neighbors appreciate all their hard work? In doing this, you might even make a new friend.

Photo via Flickr/Denise Mattox

Along with milk and cookies, have your kids write a thank-you note to leave for Santa. Hey, even make-believe characters can provide a good opportunity to teach your child about gratitude.

Photo via Flickr/Casey Fleser

Think of people in your life who you aren't planning to get a holiday gift for, but still mean a lot to you. Take a few hours to write them "I'm thinking of you" letters, then mail them off so they'll make it in time for the holiday morning. Material items aren't the only way to tell people how much you appreciate them.

Photo via Flickr/kylesteed

Invite your kids' friends of other faiths over to participate in a family holiday tradition, whether it's decorating the Christmas tree, making latkes or something else entirely. Kids love learning about other cultures, and it's important to teach everyone about the value of understanding and accepting other religions.

Photo via Flickr/Elizabeth

Teach your kids how to pay it forward using video games. Ask them to save up their extra lures on Pokémon Go, then take a trip together to a local children's hospital to drop them off. This will let kids who are stuck in the hospital enjoy the game, too.

Photo via Flickr/Alpha

Foster an animal for the holidays. Animal shelters tend to be short on staff during the holidays, and are often looking for people to help out. Your kids will love this idea, but be sure they realize that the new pet is only temporary.

Photo via Flickr/Chris

Offer your services as a designated driver to family and friends who are celebrating the holidays at work parties. This makes the world a safer place for everyone, not just those close to you.

Photo via Flickr/Lalor McMahon

Participate in a local library book drive, which often happen around the holidays and are intended to collect books for children who can't afford their own. Ask your kids to look through their shelves for books they've outgrown, then go together to donate them. Bring along cookies or thank-you notes for your local librarians to double your good deed.

Photo via Flickr/Rosa Say

Put a thank-you treat in your mailbox addressed to your mail carrier. They're often forgotten during the holiday season, and will be surprised and delighted to find something just for them in the mail.

Photo via Flickr/beana_cheese

Give your kids experiences instead of stuff as presents. For example, if your daughter loves dinosaurs, give her a family fossil-collecting trip rather than dinosaur figurines. This has multiple benefits, including helping your kids widen their understanding of what's worthwhile and important, spending more time as a family in the future, and contributing less junk to landfills.

Photo via Flickr/Zoe

Spend a winter break morning teaching your kids about the power of their voices. Find an issue you all care about, research it, and write letters to local or national lawmakers explaining why they should support your cause.

Photo via Flickr/Erik (HASH) Hersman

Make holiday cards for a local nursing home with your kids. Decorate them with bright colors and kind messages, then go drop them off together. Elderly people who are far from their families (or don't have anyone at all) will appreciate the gesture.

Photo via Flickr/citychiccountrymouse

Babysit! Offer your time to watch friends' kids so they can get some holiday tasks taken care of more efficiently. As a bonus, your kids will get an extra playdate.

Photo via Flickr/Vindy

Find a local treecycling program. These turn used Christmas trees into mulch, which is so much better than tossing them out with the rest of your holiday garbage.

Photo via Flickr/phip_s

Buy your presents from locally owned small businesses. If it costs a few more dollars than what you can find on the internet, consider the extra bucks a gift to your community. Extra points for buying items from local artisans.

Photo via Flickr/Liz

Instead of gifts each day of Chanukah or an advent calendar with candy or small gifts, challenge your family to do one good deed for each day of the holiday. At night, gather around your living room with hot cocoa and marshmallows while you share your stories. Teaching your family that the holiday spirit is about togetherness and giving back rather than stuff is a lesson that will go a long way.

Photo via Flickr/Christopher

Offer to help an elderly neighbor put up their holiday lights. Getting older doesn't make people appreciate lights less, but it certainly can make putting them up a lot more dangerous.

Photo via Flickr/Lee Davenport

Spend a winter-break morning drawing pictures or baking cookies with your kids for your sanitation workers. They work hard for you year-round and don't often get the same attention as waiters, concierges and other service workers who you actually interact with. Show your kids the joy of paying it forward by having them deliver the items to the sanitation workers when they arrive at your house.

Photo via Flickr/Demetri Mouratis

Offer to wrap or store gifts for busy neighbors who are also parents of young, inquisitive children. Lug them back over once the kids have gone to bed on Christmas Eve, then spend some time bonding as adults with Santa's milk and cookies.

Photo via Flickr/Ginny

Look for a local holiday angel program. These help provide necessities like toothpaste, sheets and towels for families in need on Christmas morning. Donate your time or money to help the organization serve as many families as possible.

Photo via Flickr/Andrew Malone

Volunteer to walk an elderly neighbor's dog. This is especially helpful during winter, when it's cold, the ground may be icy and falls are more likely.

Photo via Flickr/Matt Niemi

Donate blood. You've got more than enough, and contributions are often down during the holiday season because regular donors are busy with extra commitments.

Photo via Flickr/Alan Levine

Buy a poinsettia for a family that you know doesn't have extra cash for holiday decorations. Leave it on their doorstep with an anonymous note.

Photo via Flickr/Nina Haghighi

Organize a white elephant party for mothers of your kid's classmates or other people in your outer circles who you don't get to spend much time with. It's a great way to build community, and also lets people give and receive gifts without spending any money.

Photo via Flickr/Connie Ma

Take the kids to your local animal shelter to play with the puppies. This is perfect for a winter-break morning when everyone's come down with cabin fever. The shelter will also appreciate it, since volunteers aren't always as plentiful during the holidays.

Photo via Flickr/Meri Hoover

Candy cane bomb a parking lot. Have your kids draw notes and pictures saying happy holidays, then tape on a candy cane to each one. Take it all to a nearby parking lot and stick the cards under windshield wipers. People will love finding something there that's not a ticket or advertisement.

Photo via Flickr/Bunches and Bits {Karina}

As a family, make it a New Year's resolution to pay it forward all year long. There's no reason you can't bring the holiday spirit to every season.

Photo via Flickr/Dennis Zimmerman