The New Year is a perfect time to embrace the spirit of giving. While giving back should be a year-round commitment, January offers an opportunity to set intentions and create positive change. Whether you're drawn to traditional acts of kindness or innovative ways to contribute, there are countless ways to make a difference in 2025.
If you're ready to give back, this guide will provide inspiring suggestions to help you get started and make generosity a cornerstone of your year.
Donating
Donating is one of the most straightforward and effective ways to help others. You can easily make a donation online without having to leave the comfort of your home. Choose any amount you wish to contribute to your preferred NGOs or local charities. You can also set up a monthly donation for ongoing support if you have the means.
Remember that you can donate more than money; you can also donate extra clothes you’ve been meaning to get rid of, especially warm clothes, and bring them to your nearest homeless and women's shelters.
Additionally, donating blood is an excellent idea. Before doing so, you must ensure that you don’t have any conditions that disqualify you from giving blood.
For more information, visit the Canadian Blood Services.
Volunteering
If you have some time to spare, many places need volunteers. Opportunities range from homeless shelters and retirement homes to animal shelters. You can also find ways to assist women and children in need. Choose a volunteer opportunity that aligns with your skills and interests, allowing you to make a meaningful contribution.
Here’s a list of NGOs and charities to donate to or volunteer for in Canada.
Getting to know your neighbours
We often find ourselves avoiding our neighbours or rarely seeing them. However, we overlook the benefits of having a good relationship with those who live nearby, as it allows us to exchange valuable favours. For example, there may be a day when you need sugar, and your neighbour can help you out. Conversely, there may come a time when your neighbour needs assistance shovelling snow, and you would be more than happy to lend a hand. Maintaining good relationships with the people around us is important, as they often play a significant role in our lives and sometimes might be the only people we can rely on.
Make a care kit for people experiencing homelessness
Creating personalized kits to distribute to those in need is a wonderful way to give back.
These kits can include essential hygiene items such as deodorant, hand sanitizer, pads or tampons (for women), shampoo, soap bars, toilet paper, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. Since it's cold outside, you can also include items for warmth, such as heating pads, gloves or mittens, warm socks, a beanie, and a mask. The items suggested above are just the basics; feel free to add more if you wish. To ensure that you are donating appropriate items, it's a good idea to contact the shelter where you plan to donate these kits or talk to the people you wish to make these kits for.
Additionally, you can create smaller kits for individuals on the street, as they will always appreciate any extra help. If you see someone you wish to help, it is also always a good idea to ask them what they would need most at that moment.
Go to community events/marches for things you care about
If you ever want to participate in community events or share your opinions and suggestions with your neighbourhood, municipality, or province, there are several ways to make your voice heard. You can easily find community events and public consultations with a quick Google search. Additionally, you can contact your representatives by email or phone if you prefer to voice your concerns to them directly.
You can find information about your representatives right here.
If you care about specific causes, protests are likely organized in your city for people to march for said causes. You can also show support for workers who are advocating for better working conditions and higher wages.
Support local shops, markets, and artists
There is an excellent variety of local shops available, and they are easy to find.
By supporting small businesses, you also support the community. In Montreal, for instance, you can stroll through neighborhoods like Mont-Royal, Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, Mile-End, and Villeray to discover many niche shops offering a wide range of products.
A quick search on Google can help you find pop-up markets in your city. These markets feature local artists, artisans, pastry chefs, and more. Often, these markets donate a portion of their profits to a cause they choose. They are a great place to meet artists and admire their crafts. You can stay updated on their work and find out when they will be at the following pop-up, as they often share their social media pages with visitors and are more than happy to discuss their creations. I frequently see organized pop-ups nearby, such as Marche Talents Locaux and Maleficarum Market.
These are always good ideas, such as home essentials, treats, or gifts for loved ones all year round.
Organize a clean-up
I've often found myself in corners of my neighborhood or parking lots, noticing all the scattered trash on the ground and wishing I could pick it up and dispose of it myself. While I sometimes collect litter at parks, I didn't realize I could organize a clean-up with friends or others interested in helping out. Fortunately, the city provides the necessary equipment to pick up and dispose of trash safely. This is called a resident initiative and includes creating green alleyways and the right to submit project ideas.
Here is an example of how to organize one in Montreal.
As you can see, there are countless ways to give back to our loved ones and communities. Staying in touch with NGOs, subscribing to their newsletters, or periodically checking in to see how you can contribute are all simple yet impactful actions. The most important thing to remember is that it doesn’t take much to show decency and respect toward others. Sometimes, a small act of kindness can make a world of difference.
