5 ways you can give back to those who are homeless for the holidays

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Homelessness is a crisis across the nation. 

In the year of 2022 alone, there were some 582,000 Americans experiencing homelessness, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

The District of Columbia, California, Vermont, Oregon, Hawaii and New York experienced the highest rates of homelessness in 2023, according to World Population Review. 

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Although the crisis is more prevalent in these areas, people across the country can use your help this holiday season. 

Below are five things you can do to help those struggling with homelessness during the holidays.

With homelessness on the rise in America, giving money and time to organizations helping the cause is extremely valuable. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

1. Donate warm clothing and children's toys
2. Create care packages
3. Donate to organizations fighting homelessness
4. Volunteer your time
5. Lead with kindness

1. Donate warm clothing

With cold winter weather rolling in, many homeless individuals don't have the proper clothing to protect themselves against chilly temperatures. 

Consider making a donation of warm clothing to a shelter to help keep individuals healthy and warm during cold months. 

This includes jackets, gloves, hats, scarfs and warm pants. 

With cold weather rolling in, warm clothing is more important than ever. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Blankets are another great item to donate to shelters, especially in the winter. 

During the holiday season, consider dropping off toys to an organization or shelter supporting homeless families. 

Your toy donation can bring a smile to a struggling child's face this Christmas. 

2. Create care packages

A care package can include day-to-day necessities like toothpaste, toothbrushes, hair combs, tissues, Band-Aids, lip balms and snacks. 

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Especially during the holidays, it is a nice touch to add a card to your care package with encouraging words. 

Care packages can include everything from toiletries to water bottles and snacks. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

These can be brought to your local homeless shelter to be distributed to people in need. 

3. Donate to organizations fighting homelessness

There are many worthy charities you can donate to this holiday season. 

If you want to help fight homelessness specifically, some organizations to consider are Coalition for the Homeless, Covenant House, Family Promise and the Salvation Army. 

You can also choose to donate through GoFundMe, if you know of a specific family or individual who could use help during the holidays. 

4. Volunteer your time

Offering a helping hand doesn't always have to come in the form of a monetary donation. Donating your time can be just as valuable. 

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Look into volunteer opportunities at your local shelter. Especially during winter months, shelters are often overflowing with individuals trying to stay out of the cold.

The high capacity shelters face during winter make volunteers vital to keep operations running smoothly. 

Serving food at a shelter is one way to volunteer this holiday season. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

You may volunteer by helping distribute food to individuals in shelters. You could also look into opportunities to share any skills you have with those who are homeless. 

This could include how to manage money, a cooking class or properly preparing for a job interview. All of these skills can provide great benefit in the future. 

You could also consider hosting a fun event like a painting night, bingo or even a dance class.

5. Lead with kindness

When you see a homeless person, always show them kindness. This could be as simple as a kind word or a comforting smile. 

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If you pass by a homeless individual, consider offering them some food, a few grocery items or a gift card to a local café or restaurant. 

Always show kindness to any homeless individual you come across. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Your small gesture could make a world of difference. 

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