Heartwarming ways to give back as a Travel Nurse

The holidays can serve as a special way for you to give back as a Travel Nurse and make an additional impact on the communities that you become a part of as a traveler. This is also a great way to connect and build relationships with others if you will be away from home over the holidays this year.

Here are some ways in which you can spread holiday cheer this year during the holidays and give back as a Travel Nurse.

Donate Clothes

A great way for you to not only organize your closet but also give back right before the holidays. In addition, this is a perfect way to cut back on materialistic items now that you’re on the road as a travel nurse! Any clothing or home goods that still have a little love to give can be donated to someone in need this holiday season. Consider a local Women’s Shelter or The Salvation Army. If you have children, consider donating their clothing as well to a Ronald McDonald house near for the families that might need it most.

Christmas Toy Donation

Toy Drives for Pediatric Patients

If you work in a pediatric healthcare setting, you can make a difference during the holiday season by organizing a toy drive. You and your team can work together to collect toys, games and books and distribute them to children in need on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, making their holiday feel a bit more special.

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is a program that distributes toys to children around Christmas each year. By visiting the Toys for Tots website, you can select toys from a list to donate. Toys for Tots will then take care of the wrapping and delivery of the gifts you’ve purchased. It’s a great way to make Christmas wishes come true and bring a little extra magic to a sweet child’s Christmas morning.

Shop for a Family

Adopt a Family

Adopting a family is a heartwarming way for you to make a difference in the lives of both adults and children this holiday season. You can adopt a family by Google searching locally, “Adopt a Family” and you’ll quickly find that many radio stations and organizations promote this offering and you can visit their website to adopt a family. Typically, you are able to adopt a family size of your choice, whether it be a single parent with two children or a family of 6, the choice is up to you!

Adopt a Senior

According to a BMC 2020 Research Article on loneliness and isolation, “50% of individuals aged over 60 are at risk of social isolation and one-third will experience some degree of loneliness later in life.”  Consider adopting a senior this year who doesn’t have any close family or a support system nearby. Reach out to local nursing homes or assisted living facilities to ask about available programs for adopting seniors during the holiday season. They likely have established programs set in place or would be able to connect you with local organizations or seniors who could benefit from your support.

Serving Volunteer

Community Events

During the holidays, you’ll find that there are many local events that take place. This is a fun way to make friends in the community outside of work and know that you can give back as a travel nurse in the communities you’re temporarily residing in. You can learn about upcoming community events by visiting the city’s website and/or social media channels. You could even visit your local schools’ upcoming events calendar as students and teachers might be seeking volunteers for those.

Food Banks/Shelters

Volunteering at a shelter or local food bank is a great way to make a difference to so many this year. Millions of children and families struggle with food insecurity across the United States. Shelters, Soup kitchens and food banks are especially busy during the holidays and are always in need of volunteers to serve meals or deliver food. You can do a quick web search to find what organizations or non-profits are in your area and learn more about the ways you can volunteer at them to give back this year.

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