By our Smarty friends at SHARE Charlotte
What do you think of when you hear the word “summertime”? Swimming pools? Beach vacations? Summer camps? Or even- gasp!- time to relax?
For many Charlotte nonprofits summertime means a time of limited resources, as both financial giving and the donation of necessary tangible goods are extremely low in the summer months.
At a time of year when temperatures are high, and so is need, SummerSHARE encourages Charlotteans to donate the items that local nonprofits need the most this summer by purchasing items off their Give Shop® Wish Lists TODAY through July 22. These items, which are shipped directly to their door, help keep their day to day operations and summer programs up and running and allow them to continue to do so much GOOD for CLT.
SummerSHARE is all about giving to those in need at a time when others are not, and shopping for GOOD has never been easier! Plus it’s an activity the whole family can participate in and feel good about together. If only you had an extra $5, $10 or $15 in your pocket to contribute…
Perhaps you can! Consider challenging your family members to find creative ways to save this week so that they can spend saved money on items that local nonprofits need to keep afloat this summer.
Here are some ideas for how every member of the family can save up to Shop for GOOD:
Kids: Instead of always paying for the next new game or toy- see if any of your friends already have it and may want to trade for something you already own. Sharing is caring, so share with your friends and get to play a game that is not necessarily new, but it’s new to you! Trading games or toys with friends is an easy way to save money and share some of your favorite things with one another.
Teenagers: Movie ticket prices seem to get higher every year, and if you get popcorn you are spending at least $20 to see a film you may or may not even end up liking- and *spoiler alert*- they don’t give a refund if the film is a flop. Instead, watch a movie on TV or on Netflix and snack on something from the pantry rather than shelling out cash for a movie and snacks at the theater.
College students: The good news about being a college student in the summer is that even if you are off campus, your student ID still gets you places- and at a discount! More and more companies are offering student discounts when you show a valid student ID card so always ask if there is a student discount for things such as: workout classes, electronics, software programs, coffee shops, restaurants, museums, book stores, and movie theaters!
Young Professionals: Try packing your lunch for work and skip the $12 salad or sandwich that may be conveniently located near your office which is a bit of a time saver, but adds up quickly over the course of a week. Want to treat yourself? A trip to the salon or spa can be pricey- skip the expensive amenities and have a DIY spa day at home and make your own face masks and body scrubs with items you already have around the house.
Adults: Are you in charge of dinner tonight? Opt for a restaurant that has a family style menu as opposed to ordering a separate dish for every member of the family, or consider splitting a meal. Ordering family-style and splitting dishes are good ways to save some money without skipping out on quality food.
No matter how much you save – the $5 you didn’t spend on a fancy latte, the $15 you didn’t spend on a new toy, the $22 you saved from enjoying a movie at home – you can use those savings to make a big difference for a local nonprofit this summer. Shop for GOOD at summershare.org.
