50 Ways to Give Back During the Holidays

• Giving Feels Good •

The holiday season is here, and we’re excited to kick off our “Random Acts of Kindness” campaign. This December, we’re finding simple, heartfelt ways to spread kindness in our local communities.

We’re inviting Compass agents and staff to join in and share their acts of kindness on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #CompassCares. Let’s inspire each other to make this season extra special!

The holidays are a perfect time to create new traditions with friends, family, and neighbors while sharing a little cheer. If you’re looking for ideas, here are some of our favorite ways to give back.

50 Ways to Give Back During the Holidays

The holiday season is the perfect time to spread joy and make a difference in the lives of others. Through small, thoughtful gestures or larger acts of charity, there are countless ways to give back and help those in need around San Diego.

From volunteering your time to donating items or simply offering a helping hand, these 50 ideas are designed to inspire kindness and generosity in your neighborhood. The holidays are bigger than twinkly lights, Santa Claus, and presents. It’s a special time to make meaningful connections and create lasting memories by giving back to those around you.

Acts of Kindness for Individuals

1. Craft handmade gifts for residents in assisted living communities.

2. Tip generously when visiting your favorite baristas, servers, and more.

3. Donate gently used toys, clothes, and books from your household.

4. Help neighbors with chores like raking leaves or carrying groceries.

5. Leave a basket of snacks on your doorstep for hardworking delivery drivers.

6. Pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru.

7. Hide cash in surprising spots, like inside the pantry, under storage boxes, or tucked into travel bags.

8. Let someone take that prime parking spot you found.

9. Feed an expired parking meter for a stranger.

10. Let someone cut ahead of you in line at the store.

11. Run an errand for a busy friend or family member.

12. Treat someone to a meal or surprise them with dessert at a restaurant.

13. Bake holiday goodies to share with your neighbors.

14. Leave a cheerful note or a small gift card on someone’s windshield.

15. Share holiday treats with co-workers at the office.

16. Write a heartfelt thank-you note to someone who inspires you.

17. Offer free babysitting to busy parents you know who could use a break.

18. Do a chore your partner dreads to make their day easier.

Support Your Local San Diego Community

19. Volunteer at a shelter, community garden, build homes, or help with job training programs.

20. Ask guests to bring canned goods or toys for donation to your holiday party.

21. Pack lunches or treat service workers like nurses or firefighters to a food truck meal.

22. Volunteer to clean up a park, beach, or public space in your neighborhood.

23. Visit a nursing home and spend time with residents who may feel lonely.

24. Donate blood at the San Diego Blood Bank — it’s a life-saving gift.

25. Bring blankets, food, or toys to your local animal shelter.

26. Foster or adopt a shelter pet during the holidays.

27. Organize a food drive at work, school, or in your neighborhood.

28. Participate in Giving Tuesday (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving).

29. Share coffee or hot cocoa with crossing guards or security staff on chilly mornings.

30. Offer to wash a friend’s car as a thoughtful surprise.

31. Donate your unused rewards points to charities that can put them to good use.

Give Charitably This Holiday Season

32. Donate new toys to the Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation.

33. Shop for a program that delivers gifts to kids in need.

34. Ask loved ones to donate to a meaningful cause instead of giving physical gifts.

35. Set up a recurring monthly donation to a nonprofit you care about.

36. Pack stockings for the homeless with essentials like snacks and gloves.

37. Make a cozy blanket for someone in need.

38. Support businesses that donate a portion of sales to charity.

39. Send a care package to troops stationed far from home.

40. Create a giving tree to support a household in need.

41. Build a little free library or giving box in your neighborhood.

42. Start a household savings jar and match your kids’ or partner’s contributions.

Volunteer Your Time & Services

43. Sign up for a local holiday-themed charity run like the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon.

44. Use your skills, like graphic design or event planning, to support a local charity.

45. Tutor students virtually or in-person to help with homework or exams.

46. Write a glowing LinkedIn recommendation for a coworker or friend.

47. Practice self-kindness by replacing negative self-talk with encouraging words.

48. Brighten someone’s day — because even small acts of kindness can be meaningful.

Support Local Services with Goodwill

49. Leave positive reviews for your favorite local shops and restaurants.

50. Donate food to your local shelter or food pantry (here’s a list of what to donate and what to skip).

Best Ways to Give Back During the Holidays

The holiday season is the perfect time to brighten someone’s day with a thoughtful gesture. When you choose to pay for a stranger’s coffee, drop off donations, or volunteer your time, these small acts of kindness can have a big impact. Need inspiration? Poke around — some of the best ideas come from seeing what others are doing to spread holiday cheer.

It’s about showing up and spreading kindness where it’s needed most. Helping a neighbor carry their groceries, volunteering at a local food bank, or donating to a cause close to your heart all make a difference. The joy that comes from giving is unmatched. It creates lasting memories and grows connections in your community.

The Bottom Line: Do Good Deeds

The holidays are more than giving gifts, they’re about creating moments of joy and connection. You can give back in meaningful ways that create positive change. If you’re ready to make this season special for your community, take the first step today. Call us at 858.880.0195 or email portia.green@compass.com to learn how Compass can help you make this holiday season one of both personal and community growth.

Sources:

https://radyfoundation.org/ways-to-give/toys-gifts/

https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-blog/what-donate-food-bank-and-what-avoid

https://www.militaryonesource.mil/military-life-cycle/friends-extended-family/sending-a-military-care-package/

https://www.carlsbadfoodtours.com/blog/pay-it-forward-at-a-north-county-san-diego-kindness-meter/

https://servingseniors.org/get-involved/ways-to-donate.html

https://www.voasw.org/blog/how-to-show-random-acts-of-kindness-to-others/

https://california.uso.org/programs/uso-holidays

https://www.sandiegoholidayhalf.com/

https://sandiegobloodbank.org/