Guelph
595 Elmira Road North
5 things to do to spread holiday cheer this year
The holidays are here! There are so many ways to make the most of this cheery time of year – especially in our communities in the Greater Toronto Area and Guelph.
Volunteering, donating, gift giving, and sharing meals are all part of being the holiday spirit. As well as, of course, enjoying some holiday movies and homemade snacks.
Here are 5 things to do this season to help spread holiday cheer:
1. Volunteer
Time and skills are powerful gifts – especially over the holidays. There are some charities in the Toronto and Guelph areas that may need help and it won’t cost you a cent.
Charities aren’t the only place to donate time and effort. Other opportunities to help out are right under our noses and are easier to organize then trying to get involved as a one-time-volunteer at a charity. Shoveling a neighbour’s driveway and performing chores and errands for those who find it hard to move around in the snow are great ways to spread holiday cheer.
VolunteerToronto.ca gives plenty of ideas on how to spread holiday cheer here.
2. Share food
Inviting people over for a meal may seem like a small gesture, but it can make their holiday! Everyone loves a warm meal with nice people – especially those who may spend a lot of time at home or who are new to the area. The elderly, new neighbours, coworkers and friends you haven’t heard from in a while can make great dinner guests that aren’t in your immediate social circle.
Sharing baked goods is another great way to spread the spirit of the season. Make double or triple batches of your famous holiday cookies and share them among people you know would appreciate them. A nice note to go in your baked good package is a small yet impactful touch!
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3. Donate
Your generosity will go a long way when donating to charities during the holidays. Money, toys, food and warm clothes are all very much appreciated!
Holiday Helpers, Moorlands Kids: local charities that help local families in need to have a very merry Christmas.
Shoebox Project: Gives local women experiencing homelessness shoe boxes of holiday gifts.
The Salvation Army: a longstanding charity that helps families in need all year round – especially during the holidays. Their Toy Mountain initiative is especially popular and easy to contribute to!
CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish: Helps thousands of GTA children get toys for Christmas and more.
4. Pay it forward
Performing good deeds without asking for anything in return makes a difference all year round, but the stress and the cold of the holiday season makes paying it forward even more appreciated.
Paying for the order of the car behind you at a drive-through or a toll station is a simple way to light up someone’s day.
If you knit, sew or crochet, there are initiatives like YarnItForward which are very simple to participate in. Make scarves and outerwear and leave them in public places for people who need them to find! If you like that idea but don’t have the time or skills to make outerwear for the homeless, there are scarf-makers that accept monetary donations to do so like Noa Mellon.
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5. Create the element of surprise
It’s difficult to keep holiday gifts a secret – especially from family and loved ones. Closets, basements and under the bed are hiding places that can easily be found!
Keep those special gifts safe and sound from accidental (or not-so-accidental) discoveries until the exact moment you want to reveal them. Our secure storage spaces come in sizes big and small – from lockers to drive-up full size storage units. Some of our locations have 24/7 access so you can access your gifts on holidays!
Toys, cars, electronics and jewelry – you can trust us to keep your presents safe in our ultra-secure units. You can rent our spaces for as long or as little as you like!
Our friendly staff are pleased to answer any questions you may have – contact us!
About Justin Morgan
Justin Morgan is a York University alumnus and began his Self Stor journey in 2015, earning a deep understanding of the qualities of self-storage and what made Self Stor special. Justin is now applying his unique talent as a Marketing Manager and content creator to bring storage to life! Follow his latest content on Instagram by subscribing to @selfstor!