5 Ways to Make a Difference this Holiday Season
December’s finally here! A month that normally kick-starts the “season for giving” instead marks the final month of a year filled with asking, needing, surviving, and uplifting each other.
Small businesses and non-profit organizations like ours have always relied on donations to stay afloat and keep pushing our mission forward.
Our country’s economy took a major hit this year, and its recovery has been a slow, unpredictable process. With that being said, being able to donate money to the organizations you’re passionate about may not have been possible for you this year - and that’s okay!
If the “giving spirit” struck your heart this year but missed your budget, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading for 5 ways to support a small business or non-profit - other than donating money.
1. Shop Small
Make your dollar go twice as far when you support a small business while shopping for yourself and your loved ones. Some small businesses offer unique, handmade items that will make for the perfect one-of-a-kind gift. Many small businesses are run by just one or two people, while others donate a percentage of their proceeds to a charity. From common household items to holiday gifts, try to find businesses in your network and community that would really benefit from your purchase.
When you shop small in the dance community, you could be supporting young ballerinas by helping to offset the cost of dancewear, lessons, and living expenses. Our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide is filled with creative gift ideas that, when purchased, would support small businesses in the dance community. Every year, we release our Brown Girls Do Ballet Calendar. Proceeds from the calendar’s sales will directly fund our Summer Intensive Scholarships!
2. Donate Supplies
Don’t toss or blindly donate items in your household that become unused, outdated, or outgrown. Instead, take some time to research organizations that may find those items useful. One of the largest setbacks in underprivileged communities is the inability to supply children and students with the tools they need to succeed. Not only does this affect children academically, but it also leads to creative suppression, thus denying children the opportunity to explore new forms of self-expression.
To flourish in the dance community, dancers of all ages must invest serious amounts of money into their craft. In addition to the cost of professional dance lessons, when you factor in the cost of quality costumes, dancewear, and other dance equipment, that investment quickly becomes unattainable. That’s why we created our Pointe Shoe Program and Supply Closet, where dancers can shop for the items they need to succeed without paying a dime. When donating money is not an option, supplies are just as helpful.
3. Become a Mentor
Children’s dreams are delicate. Their hopes can be easily shattered or overshadowed by one comment of disapproval or one discouraging failure. Children need to know that after failure, there is resilience - but only if you keep pushing forward. That’s why diverse and positive representation is so important! By walking in your own truth and sharing your story, you could be the inspiration a child needs to realize their own power.
Consider becoming a mentor so that you can encourage those around you to set their dreams free. Expose someone to the resources you wish you had. Share with them the wisdom you’ve gained over the years. Becoming a mentor helps build a support system for children to feel safe and empowered. Brown Girls Do Ballet’s Ambassador Program connects ballerinas with each other to build a network of support while creating positive change in the dance community.
4. Volunteer
If you’re unable to become a full-fledged mentor, investing just an hour of your time can really be helpful to small organizations. Contact your entrepreneurial friends to see if there’s a simple task you can take off their plates. Get creative with your family by packing self-care bags to donate, or by gathering and donating unused canned goods and clothing. Your professional skills can also be helpful in ways you may never have imagined. There are plenty of schools looking for volunteer virtual tutors and local campaigns need help making campaign calls.
In the dance community, you can volunteer by collecting dance supplies for dance studios in need. You can teach a quick virtual dance lesson or host a Q&A session online to share advice. If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities, follow us on Instagram to stay in-the-know about organizations and dancers doing great things in their communities, who could likely use your help!
5. Spread the Word
Perhaps the most simple and affordable way to support a non-profit organization is to spread the word about all of the great things they’re doing. Don’t deny the power of word-of-mouth! Social media makes spreading the word 10x easier. All you have to do is like, share, and save content from businesses and organizations that you want to support. Not only will this help raise awareness of their efforts, but it may also draw in new support for the organization from your timeline.
Do you know a former dancer who could become a professional mentor? Do you know a young ballerina who needs financial support? Does your company donate to non-profit organizations on a regular basis? Tap into your network of colleagues, coworkers, and friends. Tell them about our mission and how they can help support it.
At Brown Girls Do Ballet, we truly believe that “we rise by lifting others.” Without the support of our donors and community, we would not be able to succeed in boosting positive representation of Black and Brown ballerinas, funding dance lessons for aspiring ballerinas, and providing supplies to ballerinas in need.
If you’re passionate about making a difference in your community this holiday season, share this article with your family and friends!