The holiday season is here and part of what makes the holiday spirit so strong is what we do for others without expecting anything in return. Giving is contagious. When you are generous and charitable to someone, that person is more likely to be generous and charitable to others. Giving can mean different things to different people, but the beauty of it all is that everyone has something to offer. It might take the form of a gift you bought, one you made, a donation, or the giving of your time. This holiday season, we can all take the time to be thankful for what we have been given and give to others in any way we can.

The Live Well San Diego Expanded Indicators help measure community involvement and volunteerism across San Diego County.

The Contributed to Charitable Organizations Indicator measures the percent of residents who donated to charitable organizations in the last 12 months. Nearly 62% of San Diegans donated to charity within the last year (a slight decrease of just over 1% since the previous year).

The Volunteered for a Charitable Organization Indicator measures the percent of the population who has volunteered for a charitable organization in the last 12 months. Overall this indicator has remained steady for San Diego County as a whole with no significant change, from 15.6% in 2015 to 15.4% in 2016.

5 Reasons to Give

1. Any form of giving has an impact. You do not have to be a millionaire to make a significant difference. Whether your way of giving is through money or time, your efforts are powerful.
2. It makes us happier. Being kind to others not only feels good, but research has shown that any form of giving is correlated to increased happiness, self-esteem, empowerment and better health.
3. It brings us closer toward building a better San Diego. Giving to your family, friends and neighbors can have a positive impact in your community, which in turn supports the Live Well San Diego vision of a region that is healthy, safe and thriving.
4. Can address inequity, disparity and disproportionality. By helping those in need you can move the needle on improving health and wellness for everyone in your community.
5. Donations can be tax-deductible. Your gift to an organization with a qualified non-profit status might entitle you to a tax break.

Think about ways where you can show generosity and give back. Here are a few ideas:

• Volunteer your time to a local organization. Many are looking for help.
• Share your skills. Tutor students at a local school or share your artistic skills at a local theater by painting or sewing costumes.
• Donate money to a meaningful cause or local charity. Every dollar helps!
• Organize a sale and donate all the proceeds to a local charity. You could have a garage sale with new or gently used clothing or furniture.
• Visit local seniors. You can read or play games with them or even lead an art class. Though, sometimes your company alone is more than enough.
• Always remember…give a smile. It’s contagious!

Make an impact this year by giving back to your community.  Your efforts can help to advance the Live Well San Diego vision of a region that is building better health, living safely and thriving.  

Stay tuned as information about each Live Well San Diego Indicator will be highlighted in upcoming editions. Learn more about the indicators here .