Last year, we gathered together 50 easy service ideas to inspire others to light the world and join the Church in spreading true Christmas cheer. This year, the Church has continued the initiative, stating:
“The teachings of Jesus Christ show us a pattern of service for our lives. Apply these 25 teachings over the 25 days of Christmas to brighten the world around you.”
Learn all about the 25 teachings and see the exclusive videos for each day here.
We sat down, put our Santa hats on, and came up with 50 MORE service projects you can do this year. Some are small. Some are big. Some are personal. Some are focused solely on others. We hope all will bring you closer to Christ. Share this list with your ward, family, friends, and social media. We can all do something.
To see our original 50 ideas, click here.
1. Those who work in the mail and post industry work extra hard during the holidays. Leave a treat & kind note in your mailbox or deliver a Christmas card to your post office or package carrier.
2. Pray to know who could use your help this Christmas season.
3. Join (or start!) a local interfaith choir and put on a Christmas concert for your community.
4. Send one of these special Christmas packages to a missionary serving in the MTC over Christmas.
5. Leave $10 (or more) in a dollar store with a small note. Imagine how far $10 might go for a family in need trying to make ends meet by shopping at a dollar store.
6. Help someone put up their Christmas lights.
7. Do errands for someone who is homebound. Getting out can be hard for many people, especially those who are physically or mentally ill. This can be made worse by bad weather. Offer to do some simple errands, such as picking up groceries or offering rides.
8. Adopt a pet from an animal shelter. If you have the ability, many pets need a loving home for the holidays.
9. Bring someone to the airport for their Christmas flight.
10. Christmas is a time for connection. Visit a nursing home or assisted living community and offer to help the elderly set up social media accounts that may help them connect with their younger family members. You can even come back and teach small classes on how to use social media. This especially great for youth activities.
11. Donate your unused airline miles to the Make-a-Wish foundation to help cover airfare for needy families during the holidays.
12. Volunteer as a “pickup service.” Many people want to donate items, but they have a hard time transporting things. Offer to pick things up and drop them off at the proper donation spots.
13. Purchase Christmas gifts through Amazon Smile. The service allows you to give back while purchasing items as you normally would through Amazon. You can choose certain charities or local organizations can even set up their own give-back accounts.
14. Share a funding page on your social media accounts.
15. Leave a jar out to collect change on the counter. Give the change to your Bishop at the end of the month to give to a family in need.
16. Write your employee a thank you card detailing all the ways they impacted your company for the better this year.
17. Bring your own bags to the grocery store to help the environment.
18. Donate your used technology to a community center or non-profit when you upgrade.
19. Build a curbside food pantry. The idea is to create a small pantry of free food anyone can take at any time. Most mount a small shelf on a post and place it in their communities, outside parks, business, and even homes. People leave food when they can donate and take food when they need it. General items placed inside include canned goods and small toiletry items. Want to learn more? Just search “Little Free Pantry” online.
20. Let someone go ahead of you in line.
21. Learn more about mental health and how to support those who suffer.
22. Purchase these special Christmas booklets from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf and give them to five friends as a gift. They’re especially good for those not of our faith.
23. Carry some roadside assistance tools in your car, such as chains, cable jumpers, and extra snowmelt. Keep your eyes open for a chance to help someone with car troubles.
24. Accept service from others. It can be hard to let others do good for us. Accept it with a grateful heart and try to magnify that kindness in your own life.
25. Start the car for a spouse or family member so it will be nice and toasty when they need to leave.
26. Offer your seat to someone. No matter where you are traveling for the holidays, look out for the chance to offer your seat to someone, whether it is on a bus or in an airport terminal.
27. Donate new or used books to your local school system.
28. If you go out for a meal during the Christmas season and receive excellent service, take the time to note your waiter’s name and tell their manager what a great job they did.
29. Use a website like this one to create a custom piece of jewelry as a gift. It is especially good for those grieving during the Christmas season.
30. Visit the sites of LDS bloggers and influencers trying to share goodness this Christmas. Let them know how much you appreciate their efforts.
31. Help someone reach a life goal. You can be a workout partner, read someone’s work, provide honest feedback, and a great cheerleader.
32. Learn a life-saving skill, such as CPR, the Heimlich maneuver, or using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
33. Study how Jesus Christ served individually or as a family throughout the month of December.
34. Interview a family member about their life and experiences for your personal family history.
35. Call your parents (or anyone who raised you) and thank them for their hard work and sacrifice. Tell them about some specific experiences that touched you and helped you become the person you are today.
36. Put away your phone for an entire Sabbath day.
37. Support refugees in your area. Learn about who is in your community, what their needs are, and how you can help them. You can learn more about serving refugees in your area here.
38. Foster new friendships by throwing a Christmas party. Invite those who may feel alone or be new to the area. No matter what you do, try to get to know those in your home better.
39. Volunteer to teach in Primary so a sister can attend Sunday School or Relief Society.
40. Want to donate rice to third-world countries just by playing a game on your phone? Check out this website then!
41. Sit down and make a list of the things that are most important in your life. Prayerfully ask yourself how you can give more of your time and attention to these things.
42. Help someone who is unemployed by offering to look at their resume and help them practice with their interviewing skills. You could also offer to give them a ride to an interview to save on gas money or give their name to anyone in your network who may have an opportunity for them.
43. Ask your local missionaries if there is anyone they are teaching who needs some service. You can offer to have a dinner and lesson in your home, go out caroling with the missionaries, or simply reach out in fellowship to any visitors in your ward.
44. For one day (or another amount of time) offer only prayers of thanks.
45. Let go of any guilt and shame you may be holding onto. Forgive yourself.
46. Make the decision to act on promptings immediately, especially those that would benefit someone else.
47. Prayerfully decide someone in need and ask if you can give them a priesthood blessing.
48. Make a child’s day extra special by taking them on an outing they would enjoy. At the end of the day, talk about how much fun they had and how other children aren’t always so blessed. Ask what they would like to do to pass on the joy and fun to someone else this Christmas. Help them act on it.
49. Create goals to carry the spirit of Christmas with you all year round.
50. Use the hashtag #LIGHTtheWORLD on social media and invite others to serve.
