Patrick Christensen has dedicated much of his life to promoting the greater good and leaving a positive impact on the world.
As a philanthropist and active community volunteer, Patrick Christensen has contributed to charities and non profit organizations in a variety of ways. Below, he describes some of the ways we all can get involved to make a difference no matter how big or small.
Different ways you can support Charity
Do you want to join a good cause but don’t know where to begin? It is a misconception that the only way to support charities is to donate money and although people want to be supportive, they feel they lack the resources to do so. Patrick Christensen is here to tell you the good news. There are many different ways to be supportive!
Fundraising
Fundraising can take many forms. Do you bake? Sell baked goods! Do you knit? Sell a scarf! Do you paint? Sell a piece of artwork! Do you have any special skills or passions that you would like to share? Share them and be creative! There are unlimited talents that go unnoticed that can be used to help raise money. Another option is to order coupon books which you can sell. A portion of the money raised is returned to the company and the rest go to your charity or organization. There are also websites such as JustGiving, an online donation site which allows you to create your cause and advertise it so others can donate with you.
Volunteer your time
For Patrick Christensen, working with students and young individuals is an awesome and rewarding experience. He is also passionate about the military and has dedicated his time supporting numerous military charities. That being said, you can find something you love to do and use that as your foundation to look for volunteer opportunities. If you are a busy bee, there are still ways to volunteer which don’t require a long-term commitment!
Shop
Yes, you’ve read that right! Although it seems counterintuitive, certain products that when bought, give back in some way. For example, when buying a pair of the popular shoe brand TOMS, the company donates a pair to someone else in need. When buying lotion from the Charity Pot from the cosmetic brand LUSH, 100% of the proceeds go to the organization that corresponds with that lotion! These products can be bought in store or online. Speaking of online..With online shopping becoming more popular, there are many online stores which donate portions of your payment to charities. Popular websites such as Amazon have a “Click to Donate” option which allows the shopper to donate. The next time you shop, make sure to browse for stores or products that benefit non-profits or check to see if they have a donation option.
Clean out your closet!
Patrick Christensen always feels refreshed and productive after cleaning out his closet. This activity is a win-win as you can donate what you don’t wear to your local homeless shelter or stores such as Army & Navy or Value Village!
Share on Social Media
Sometimes we simply don't have the time or money to donate or volunteer as much as we'd like to. In these circumstances, you can still offer support through social media! A simple sharing of the charity page (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) will raise awareness for the cause; this can go a long way as others may choose to donate or continue sharing! Additionally, just by following their page or subscribing, you can learn about the fundraising events or volunteer opportunities that they have down the road!
These are just a few ways that one can support charity and by doing any of the above, you’re not only benefitting the cause, but yourself as well as you will feel great and meet wonderful people in your community along the way!
