Charitable Giving For The Cash-Strapped

Many of us just don’t have that extra £50 this summer to give to a cherished cause.

And I’m here to tell you that’s okay. We’re all doing the best we can in these incredibly challenging times, and the good news is that there are still loads of ways you can help out in ways that don’t cost anything. Here are just some examples:

1. Become a more involved citizen. Have some extra time on your hands this summer? Why not use it to take action on issues important to you in your community? Take 10 minutes to post a public comment about how you’d like to see a local historic building used. Phone up your elected representative and ask them how they plan to address local issues like litter or traffic—and then ask them how you can help!

2. Explore volunteer opportunities. Your skills are often even more valuable than your money when it comes to certain issues that benefit from a concerned community member. Take a browse on Do-it.org and see if anything appeals to you. You can search volunteer opportunities by issue area, from animals to education and learning, and very often the volunteer work can be done online or over the phone.

3. Be intentional about where you shop. It’s no secret that smaller businesses have been especially hard hit by lockdown. If you’re keen to see your local art supply store or book shop stay open, try to direct the purchases you do make to them. Sure, it may not be as convenient as clicking the Amazon ‘buy now’ button, but your regular patronage will mean a lot to that small business owner…and help keep them in your community.

As I’ve tried to stress again and again in these posts, giving is so much more than handing over physical cash. So many of us give in hundreds of different ways and we should celebrate what we’re able to do even when times are tight.

Stay safe, enjoy the sun and happy giving.