"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." ~Winston Churchill.
It’s the time of year for charitable giving.
On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, many Americans officially kick off the holiday season by giving back to their community. Whether it is donating money or items to a charitable cause or volunteering, Giving Tuesday is a day set to benefit the community. Call it doing good. Call it a tax break. Call it anything you want. Giving back feels great any day of the year—and especially around the holidays.
If you prefer to keep your donations local, Care and Share offers some great ways to help people right here in the Pikes Peak region.
“The holiday season is time we like to bring people together through some of our biggest and most cherished events,” said Care and Share CEO Lynne Telford.
Take a Turkey to Work Day
Each year, Care and Share encourages the Colorado Springs community to donate frozen turkeys that can be delivered to local families in need before Thanksgiving. This year, the event will take place on November 19, with collections at participating King Soopers locations, as well as at the Care and Share distribution center.
“This is such a meaningful tradition for us because, while food is a necessity, it also is the foundation for creating memories with your kids and family around the table, experiencing joy, and building hope,” Telford said.
Can’t make it in person? Donate online at careandshare.org/turkey.
Food Drives + More
Another way to get involved during the holiday season is by hosting a food drive.
“What we love about food drives is that it gives people, especially kids, the opportunity to experience the meaning of giving back. It’s especially exciting to see young kids drop off the donations they’ve collected at their schools or in their neighborhoods,” Telford said.
Most needed items? Canned fruit. Canned Vegetables. Soup. Canned meat or tuna. Peanut butter. Cereal. Oatmeal. Pre-packaged snacks. Boxed dinners.
Dozens of local schools participate each year in Care and Share’s signature food drive called Harvest of Love. Each school competes to collect and raise the most donations. This year, Harvest of Love runs from October 18-November 18.
Kids can also host their own food drives or even volunteer at the distribution center, if they’re at least nine years old. Local businesses and organizations can help by volunteering as groups, hosting kick-back events, and partnering with Care and Share through sponsorships.
Amazing Return on Investment
In the vast sea of donation opportunities, why donate food, money or time to a food bank?
“We believe that no one should go hungry,” Telford said. “There is enough food in America. It is our job to get it to the people who need it and I believe that we can do it.”
Last year, Care and Share’s donors made it possible to distribute more than 25 million pounds of food. More than half of their funding comes from individuals, with the balance coming largely from businesses, foundations and federal programs.
Each dollar translates into six meals. How, exactly?
“A large portion of our food is donated,” Telford said. “We get it through government programs, grocery store rescue, farmers, and food manufacturers. We work with local companies and have an important partnership with Feeding America that facilitates donations on a national level.”
The other secret? The volunteers. More than 4,000 people volunteered at Care and Share last year. Those folks help stretch every donated dollar and can of food. They’re the ones who help turn $25 into 150 meals.
The Power of Food
Many people in the Pikes Peak region don’t have the privilege of simply grabbing something from their pantries, when it's mealtime. And when people are hungry, they can’t effectively work or learn, Telford said.
“When people have the food they need to be healthy, they can be productive members of our community,” she said.
Website: https://careandshare.org/
Facebook + Instagram: @careandsharefb
