Doing the Most Good

Written by Brianne Manz at Stroller in the City

Festive lights, Christmas trees, crowds of shoppers and piles and piles of gifts are all thrilling parts of the holidays. My kids love to pour over the toy catalogues and make endless lists of items they want. With three kids and countless relatives the gifts tend to flood into our already packed apartment. And as much as I want my children to enjoy the holidays and play with all their new toys, I also want them to acknowledge how lucky they are and to give back when they can. A few weeks before Christmas each year, I go through their toys and clothes with them, and separate the ones they no longer play with or fit into, so we can donate them. It isn’t just about space saving; it is about doing the right thing.

The holidays are a perfect time to appreciate what we have and to take some time to reflect on those less fortunate. We are so lucky to have our health and happiness, a roof over our head and food in our kitchen. The gifts and toys are an incredible bonus to our already amazing lives, so it is crucial that we never take these things for granted and always do what we can to help those in need. Whether it is starting a toy or coat drive during the holidays or organize a mass clothing donation to your local Salvation Army or charity—it is important to get the community involved and support each other.

One of my goals as a mother is to raise compassionate, honest, generous and socially conscious human beings. I have made an effort to expose my kids to different cultures and traditions and most especially I show them that giving your time, effort, money and goods to the less fortunate is important and essential. I also like to support companies and brands that take social responsibility seriously and give back to the community.

Moving is also a great opportunity to take stock of your life and your stuff and consider donating gently used items to those in need. The best time to purge household goods, clothes, furniture that you no longer have use for is when you are moving. When I think about our next move, maybe to a bigger apartment, maybe to a house…I am happy to know that FlatRate Movers in New York City has partnered with the Salvation Army on their UPCYCLE program. FlatRate will provide you with boxes for donation items that they will drop off for you and then bring you the donation receipt! Not only does FlatRate completely take the effort and stress out of moving—you can feel good about booking with a company that gives back to the community.

My children were so happy and proud to give back we packed three boxes worth of toys and clothes to send to the Salvation Army! These are valuable lessons for them to learn and I hope they continue donating and volunteering into their adult lives.

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