Give Back This Season: How to Choose a Charity & Make a Real Difference

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December has a way of slowing us down just enough to reflect — on our homes, our families, our progress, our challenges, and the people who’ve been part of our story this year. It’s also a beautiful time to look outward and ask a powerful question:

How can we make someone else’s year a little brighter?

You don’t have to have unlimited time or a huge budget to make an impact. Sometimes the most meaningful contributions come from simple acts that meet real human needs. And if you're hoping to give back this season but aren’t sure where to start, here are a few thoughtful ways to choose a charity or cause that truly resonates:

1. Think about what matters most to you

Is it children? Veterans? Mental health? Families in crisis? Animals? Housing insecurity?
We’re often called to give where we’ve lived, healed, or loved deeply ourselves.

2. Look for organizations that align with your values

A great nonprofit is transparent — you should be able to see how funds are used, the mission they stand on, and the outcomes they’re creating.

A good rule of thumb: impact over size.

Small organizations often do deeply personal, life-changing work inside their own communities.

3. Decide what type of giving feels right for you

Giving isn't always financial. It can look like:

  • Donating gently used household items

  • Sponsoring a family for Christmas

  • Buying coats, gloves, or hygiene kits

  • Hiring a speaker or supporting awareness programs

  • Volunteering time, skills, or transportation

  • Delivering meals or hosting a fundraiser

  • Simply showing up for someone who is hurting

Sometimes the gift is presence. Sometimes it’s resources. Both matter.

4. Ask how you want your giving to feel

Do you want to see the faces you’re helping?
Do you want something local, where the ripple stays here in Iowa?
Do you want to support large-scale change or quiet impact behind the scenes?

There’s no wrong answer — just the one that fits your heart.

5. A gentle reminder: generosity isn’t measured in size

You don’t have to solve everything.
You just have to do something.

Even one family helped, one child encouraged, one conversation that brings hope… that is impact.

A personal note

As many know, our nonprofit Become Their Voice works to bring awareness to the connection between mental health and addiction, and to support youth and families who need hope, education, and direction. It’s a mission rooted in both love and loss — and it reminds me daily that giving back is more than charity. It’s purpose.

Whether you support BTV, another local organization, or simply help your neighbor quietly and without recognition — I hope this season brings you moments of connection, meaning, and joy.

Giving doesn’t just change lives.
It changes the giver.