Here are five ways you can give back to the community this week

Thanksgiving may look a little different for many of us this year. We might be staying home instead of traveling to see family, or perhaps opting to take a year off from celebrating altogether. But whatever we choose, there are still plenty of ways to make the holiday season meaningful by giving back to our friends and neighbors.

The Catalyst is dedicated to helping residents get involved in the community through our Impact Connector. Here are five ideas for ways to give back:

• Donate a political sign to save the bees. The Sarasota Honey Company is currently accepting political yard signs. Recycled signs can be repurposed into an all-natural treatment to protect bees from pests and used to keep beehives warm when the nights get colder. Signs can be dropped off at the Sarasota Honey Company’s store at 2227 University Parkway, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday from noon-6 p.m.
• Write to a veteran. Veteran’s Day may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still tell a vet you appreciate their service. Letters can be sent online through the United Way Suncoast portal or handwritten and mailed to UWS Volunteer Team (Veterans), 5201 W. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 600, Tampa, FL 33609.
• Deliver food to hospital patients. St. Anthony’s Hospital is seeking volunteers for its food and nutrition program to deliver items to patients. Opportunities are available seven days a week at a variety of times. Volunteers must be at least 14, and must attend an orientation. For more information, click here. 
• Become a mentor. Starting Right, Now is an organization aimed at ending youth homelessness. Mentors work with students to provide emotional support and to expose them to activities and experiences they may have never had before, such as attending an arts event. To learn more about how to become a mentor, click here. 
• Help the city. Connect with the City of St. Petersburg’s Involved Citizens Active in Neighborhoods program, a working partnership with city departments and local nonprofit organizations that serves as a one-stop-shop for residents interesting in volunteering. I CAN promotes St. Petersburg city initiatives while also enabling residents to access a wide range of additional opportunities from community partners. To find out more, click here. 

If your organization is looking for volunteers, click here to submit your opportunity. We’ll be sure to share it with our readers.