Forget the fancy gifts. Here are 10 ways to celebrate the real meaning of the holidays.

By Nick Burry | Illustrations by Jennifer Yanok

At a certain age, most of us begin to have mixed feelings about the holidays.

We tend to head into the season excitedly anticipating the office parties and gifts, feasting and family time. But the parties lead to hangovers, the shopping devolves into credit card bills and the tree-shaped cookies turn into extra inches around the waistline.

If the holiday season tends to leave you feeling hollow, maybe the best gift this year will be the fulfillment you’ll experience after giving back to the community.

1 Give Blood

WHETHER YOU SPEND two months scouring the city for perfect gifts for all your friends or you join the mid-December, last-ditch scramble at the mall, it’s likely that the present you select will be politely accepted and then quietly stowed away in a dark closet. By donating blood instead, you can guarantee that your gift is appreciated and utilized.

Only about five percent of the eligible population gives blood every year, which makes it difficult to meet the need of the 38,000 blood donations required every day. The process is safe because your body begins replacing the fluids within hours, and the actual blood donation process only takes about 7 to 10 minutes. (Plus, there’s free juice and cookies!) According to the American Red Cross (www.givelife.org), a blood donation is needed every two seconds, so now is a perfect time to find a drive near you. There’s a reason they call it “the gift of life”—donating a pint of blood can save up to three lives.

2 Operation Uso Care Package

AS WE GET older, the joy and meaning of the holiday season transitions from the accumulation of presents to the opportunity to revel in the company of friends and family. The precious time away from the stress of the daily grind rejuvenates us and reminds us that we’re loved. Soldiers serving overseas have volunteered to give up that yearly sense of homecoming and place, so it’s up to us to remind them how much we appreciate their sacrifice. When our troops can’t come home, Operation USO Care Package (www.operationusocarepackage.org) brings a piece of home to them.

By sponsoring a care package for $25, you can help boost the morale of men and women in uniform. Each package contains little pick-meups like snacks, CDs and playing cards, as well as a pre-paid phone card to help recipients stay connected to their loved ones. Most importantly, your package contains a personal message in which you can express your gratitude and best wishes.

3 Meals on Wheels

THE HOLIDAYS ARE synonymous with heaping tables of food, but not everybody has access to even the most basic meals. Meals on Wheels (www.mowaa.org) was born in bomb-scarred Britain during World War II when the Women’s Volunteer Service for Civil Defense delivered food to civilians and soldiers in need. After the war, the program crossed the pond and sprouted up in Philadelphia, Columbus, Ohio, and Rochester, N.Y. Now, Meals on Wheels has spread throughout the U.S., but the mission has remained the same: deliver nutritious meals to elderly, disabled and at-risk people across the country.

This season, you have a chance to form a bond with your community’s parents and grandparents—visit the Web site to find ways to donate and volunteer your time for Meals on Wheels.

4 Volunteer at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

“NOBODY ANTICIPATES THAT their child will have to spend time in a hospital,” says Maggie Butterfield, director of patient amenities and family services at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, “The volunteers who interact directly with the families are greatly appreciated.” This holiday season, the best gift you can give a child is your comfort and attention as a volunteer. At the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (www.chw.org), the commitment is modest (you must be at least 16 years old and willing to work at least two hours a week for six months), but the rewards are immeasurable. Whether you’re greeting and guiding, tutoring, distributing snacks or just playing with a child, the payment in smiles, laughter and letters of appreciation will be the most rewarding gift of the year.

5 Adopt a Pet

THE HUMANE SOCIETY estimates between six and eight million dogs and cats reside in shelters across the country. By adopting a pet, you’re not only providing a permanent home for an abandoned animal, you’re also investing in your own physical and mental health. Purring cats and tail-wagging dogs are powerful stress relievers. Pet ownership has also been linked to lower blood pressure and reduced occurrences of depression. And that daily walk around the neighborhood with your dog is a great way to interact with the community and work off a couple of those extra holiday pounds.

As evidenced by the numbers of animals living in shelters, owning a pet isn’t for everyone. However, there are several resources to help find shelters, select pets and advise you on what to expect from your new adoptee. The Humane Society (www.hsus.org) is a great place to start for a wide variety of adoption information, and petfinder.com is a helpful site when searching for specific breeds, ages and sizes at thousands of adoption groups nationwide.

6 Become a Big Brother/Sister

“OUR GOAL IS to reach 10 percent of the at-risk children in all communities—one million youth nationwide,” says Jill Godsey of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (www.bbbs.org). Being a Big Brother/Sister is really difficult if you hate going to movies, fishing, playing video games and talking about sports. If you happen to enjoy any of these activities, you’ll find they’re even more fun when you’re with your Little Brother/Sister. The requirements are simple: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is looking for a caring adult who is willing to be a friend to a child. It only takes a few hours a week, a couple times a month to make a huge difference in a child’s life. By becoming a mentor, you help ensure that your Little Brother/Sister will be more confident in school, get along better with his or her family, and stay away from drugs and alcohol. Use this holiday season to make a child feel special.

7 Organize a Coat Drive

CHANCES ARE, YOU have an unused coat in your closet that doesn’t fit anymore. Instead of filling the pockets with mothballs and storing it indefinitely, you can donate your gently used coat and help someone stay warm this holiday season. Since 1992, One Warm Coat (www.onewarmcoat.org) has distributed 500,000 free coats to those in need. At its most basic level, the organization provides donors with coat drive locations. More impressively, One Warm Coat gives you the tools to become a larger part of the charitable network. They provide a guidebook and assistance in creating your own coat drive, from collection and distribution to community awareness and publicity. It’s an opportunity to bring the true spirit and warmth of the holidays to hundreds of people this winter.

8 TURN YOUR BACKYARD INTO A CERTIFIED WILDLIFE HABITAT

PROTECTING WILDLIFE DOESN’T necessarily mean years of backpacking in forests. Even if you’re an armchair wildlife enthusiast, you can give back to nature by turning your backyard into a Certified Wildlife Habitat. By replacing that patchy lawn with native plants, you’ll attract a variety of species while purifying the air and improving soil quality in your neighborhood. You’ll also enjoy the de-stressing benefits of gardening activities, a beautified yard to relax in and a family educational experience.

The process of converting your yard is not hard. The National Wildlife Federation (www.nwf.org) will walk you through the steps of creating food, water and cover for wildlife, as well as provide tips on sustainable gardening. In the end, you’ll be able to join the growing community of homeowners who are turning their neighborhoods into wildlife havens.

9 Toys for Tots

FOR MOST KIDS, the road to Christmas begins sometime in early fall, from the preliminary wish lists drawn up in September to the unbearable anticipation and sleepless nights leading up to the big day.
For a brief period in life there’s nothing as exciting as the thought of a stocking bursting at the seams and a tree dwarfed by a mound of presents.

However, for too many children, Christmas is not a gift bonanza, but a reminder of what their families can’t afford. Since 1947, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program (www.toysfortots.org) has assumed the duty of delivering brand-new toys to disadvantaged children.

Last year, Toys for Tots delivered 19.2 million toys to more than seven million children. Check out the Web site to see how you can serve the Marine Corps in their mission to distribute a shiny new toy—and a sign of economic hope—to every needy kid this holiday season.

10 Help Your Kids Keep America Beautiful

THE HOLIDAYS ARE about family, community and giving; participating in a park or shore cleanup is a perfect way to spend time with your kids while teaching them about community service and respecting the environment. Keep America Beautiful (www.kab.org) is committed to litter prevention, waste minimization, recycling and beautification. On the Web site, you’ll find a range of activities in which to participate. Kids in coastal communities can participate in shoreline cleanups with Surfrider Foundation (www.surfrider.org). With a host of local KAB and Surfriders affiliates across the U.S., there is certain to be a cleanup opportunity happening near you. Both organizations are committed to educating kids about litter control, recycling and individual responsibility. ■

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DONATE MILES

Frequent Midwest Airlines fliers can give back this holiday season by helping someone in need travel across the country through the Midwest Miracle Miles program.

Fliers can donate their Midwest Miles to qualifying nonprofit organizations, which will use the miles to support their missions—from fulfilling travel wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions to transporting individuals with disabilities or special needs to distant specialized medical facilities for continuing care.

For single donations of 5,000 miles or more, Midwest Airlines will match one mile for every three donated. For donations of 15,000 miles or more, the donor can specify the organization they wish to receive the miles. To make a dream come true for a person in need, visit www.midwestairlines.com/MAWeb/myAccount/useYourMiles/donateMiles.aspx and complete the form. Midwest Airlines will deduct the miles from your account and deposit them in the Miracle Miles account.