It’s the most wonderful time of the year again, and what better way to celebrate and spread holiday joy than by giving back to your Camden community! The holidays are about spending time with family and friends and spreading joy and happiness wherever you can.

As a Camden resident and employee, giving back to my community and seeing the effects of helping those around me always heightened my holiday experience. Here, the smallest acts can make a difference in your mood and those around you. Let the holiday cheer reflect in your actions, and give back today! Here are a few ideas to get you going.

Photo Courtesy of Camden Flatirons in Broomfield, CO

Host a Holiday Gathering

One idea to give back to your community this holiday season is to host a gathering in your community clubhouse or resident lounge. This is a wonderful way to give back this season, especially since some people within your community may live far away from their families – it can be an opportunity for them to meet new friends and feel included this holiday season.

You can post on the community forum MyCamden to help get people involved by asking your fellow neighbors to help bring snacks, decorations, and games to help bring everyone together. Make sure to touch base with your leasing office team to reserve the clubhouse to ensure the event is the best it can be!

Donate Decorations

Do you have gently used decorations piling up from previous years? A great way to not be wasteful and give back to your community would be to donate them! Let your neighbors know this by simply posting the items on MyCamden and offering them for free to anyone who wants them. It's a great way to help spread holiday cheer, as some of your neighbors may not have many of their own decorations. And, instead of the decor going to the landfill, you're participating in the sustainable living in circularity we've been talking about on the blog! and would love to help recycle.

Photo Courtesy of Camden

Donate Gifts for Your Leasing Office to Share With Neighbors

Another idea to give back to your community would be to donate affordable and easy gifts to the Leasing Office to give to your fellow residents and guests. This can include small holiday gift bags, holiday trinkets, or pre-packaged treats and sweets! The front office can use these gifts to give them out to fellow residents stopping by.

In my experience, any small gesture like this can completely change my entire day—knowing that I may have improved someone’s day makes it even more worth it.

Give Back to the Community

Last but not least, one of the absolute best ways to give back to your community is to volunteer or donate to charitable organizations in the area that help give back! You can choose to donate to your local food bank, clothing drives, or charities supporting homelessness, or participate by contributing to a Camden Cares donation drive! Camden Cares is how Camden and our residents help give back to our communities. Camden Cares events range from donating food and clothing to children's holiday gifts. Check out this Camden Cares blog for wonderful examples of giving back to our communities in our Georgia and Florida markets.

Don't wait; create the joy of the holiday season this year by giving back to your community today, and make this year one for the books! Who knows, you may find a new holiday tradition for yourself in the process. Happy Holidays!