If the frenzied first weekend of holiday shopping has left you feeling a bit empty, not only in your pocketbook but inside as well, here are some options for recharging your inner elf while spreading cheer to others — most costing little more than your time.
DONATE BLOOD
Make the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time at the Blood Bank of Hawaii, where it takes only an hour to save three lives (6 to 8 minutes for the actual blood draw). Vacations, shopping and other distractions make it even harder to find donors during the holidays, so your gift of life will be even more welcome. Visit www.bbh.org or call 848-4770 (neighbor islands call toll-free 800-372-9966).
SHOP LOCALLY
The "buy local" mantra goes well beyond picking up Hawaii-grown food at farmers markets and grocery stores. When shopping for gifts this holiday season, check out craft fairs and Made in Hawaii shows, and don’t be shy about asking retailers for local products. Expand your gift list to include island music, books, art, fashion, jewelry, cosmetics and housewares as well as mac nuts and Kona coffee.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
Lots of organizations arrange for holiday care packages to be shipped to active-duty service members. At the nonprofit adoptaussoldier.org, the experience goes deeper. The site "assigns" a U.S. soldier serving in one of more than 128 countries to whom you send letters and care packages. Soldiers sign up to participate and details of your match arrive via email. Closer to home, consider volunteering for the USO, serving up information, refreshments and aloha to troops in transit. Visit affiliates.uso.org/hawaii or call Barbara Troegnerat 422-1213 to learn about volunteer opportunities.
BE KIND TO ANIMALS
We’re pretty sure there weren’t any monk seals or sea turtles in the manger in Bethlehem, but animals of all sorts play a pivotal role in the Christmas narrative — biblical or not (Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer, anyone?). There are plenty of ways to honor our furry, finny and feathered friends, such as helping out at shelters, providing foster care for young or ailing animals or donating food, toys and bedding. Or be a Honu Guardian for Malama na Honu, one of the many agencies that protect marine animals (check preservehawaii.org for local wildlife organizations). For a shorter commitment, sign up to count whales during the Sanctuary Ocean Count on Jan. 26, Feb. 23 and March 30 (hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov).
CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET
With the end of the tax year approaching and incoming purchases needing space, it’s the perfect time to get a bunch of friends together, a la "Sex in the City," and go through your wardrobe, donating gently used clothing, shoes and accessories to Goodwill (www.higoodwill.org, 836-0313) or Salvation Army thrift stores (www.satruck.com, 800-95-TRUCK). Suits and dresses can go to the YWCA’s Dress for Success program (www.ywca.org, 695-2603), which provides low-income women with business attire for job interviews.
FEED THE HUNGRY
Support local agriculture and Hawaii’s hungry by buying some extra produce or harvesting excess fruits and vegetables from your garden and bringing the items to the Give It Fresh Today table at the KCC, Blaisdell and Windward Mall farmers markets for distribution to agencies that provide fresh, healthful food to the homeless. GIFT also needs volunteers to staff the tables. Visit giveitfreshtoday.org for details.
MALAMA THE AINA
No shortage of opportunities here: Help build and maintain school gardens as part of the Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation’s ‘AINA in Schools program; enjoy a morning walk at Lyon Arboretum while keeping the place safe and beautiful as a member of the Morning Trail Sweepers Group; or join Adopt-A-Stream to help the city’s Department of Environmental Services Storm Water Quality Branch. Visit preservehawaii.org for details on these and dozens of other groups working to protect the environment.
BE NEIGHBORLY
There are always people nearby who could use a helping hand. Check in with elderly neighbors to see if they need help with yard work or shopping. Take prepared meals to an ailing friend or new parents. Organize a neighborhood group of carolers to go door to door collecting canned goods for the needy. Or stop by your local school to see about volunteering.
TEACH READING
Write a new chapter in the lives of those who struggle with reading and writing by volunteering at Hawaii Literacy. Tutors are needed to teach basic skills one-on-one with English-speaking adults, staff the Classroom on Wheels bookmobile in Waianae, help run educational activities for families at Mayor Wright Homes and Kuhio Park Terrace, work in the office and drop-in center, and more. Visit www.hawaiiliteracy.org or call 537-6706.
DONATE CHANGE
Every penny counts, especially when it goes to charity. Encourage your kids to save their coins to donate to Salvation Army bell-ringers the next time you head to the mall or supermarket. Make a game of checking the couch cushions, the laundry room and the car for loose change.
REACH OUT
Not everyone finds the holidays joyful — especially those who may be dealing with the loss of a loved one. Hospice Hawai‘i volunteers provide companionship and caregiver respite, help with chores and errands, assist with bereavement support groups, memorial services and a children’s camp, and keep in touch with families through visits and phone calls. Check www.hospicehawaii.org or call 924-9255.
DELIVER MEALS
Lanakila Meals on Wheels is looking for "designated drivers" to deliver meals to Oahu’s homebound seniors who are unable to cook or shop for themselves. For some kupuna, visits from the Meals on Wheels drivers may be their only connection to the outside community. Call 531-0555.
