5 Ideas for Serving the Community During the Holidays

There’s no better time to give back than during the holidays. Finding ways to serve the community during this joyous time of year can bring your family closer together while helping those in need. Despite your good intentions, you may not know how to help others during the holidays. Here are some ideas of easy ways to serve the community this upcoming season:

Volunteer at a local food pantry or soup kitchen.

When you think of feeding others for the holidays, the first thing that comes to mind is cooking for the family. However, some people need extra help to get their holiday dinner. Volunteering at a local food pantry or soup kitchen is a great way to give back as a family. In volunteering, “the more, the merrier” always rings true.

Adopt a family in need for the holidays.

Many charity organizations have an “Adopt-a-family” program, where you can help a family in need by buying the items on their wishlists. These programs ensure that parents who otherwise would not be able to afford gifts could spread holiday joy to their children. This can be a morale boost during a time that can be difficult for struggling families. It also allows your family to feel good about helping others. 

Make holiday cards for nursing home residents.

Nursing homes can be lonely places, especially during the holidays. Creating homemade holiday cards for nursing home residents can bring them joy, letting them know someone is thinking of them. Start by finding out where you can send the cards, then get to crafting. Make a day of putting together cards as a family, writing nice messages and, if you have an artist in the family, allowing them to give the cards a creative touch. 

Organize a neighborhood cleanup.

One way to give back to the community is to clean it up. Get some neighbors together to clean up the neighborhood. Make it fun by encouraging everyone to dress festively but comfortably. Figure out a weekend day that will work for most people, and post some flyers around the neighborhood. Then, when the time comes, buy some gloves and trash bags, and get to work making your neighborhood a more beautiful place. Getting everyone involved will help bring the community together and help everyone appreciate the place they live even more. 

Donate toys and clothes to a local shelter or charity.

Children of all ages have toys and clothes they love for a while that eventually lie forgotten. If they’re still in good condition when this happens, you may consider donating these items to charity. There will always be children in need who will enjoy new clothes and toys like your child once did. Help your child decide which items they’re willing to sacrifice. Put out a “to keep” box and a “to donate” box so they see that they’re not giving everything up, only the things that no longer mean as much to them. It will all be worth it to make another child smile this holiday season. 

As the holiday season quickly approaches, take some time to plan out activities you and the family can do for the community. At NTCA, spreading God’s love through acts of service is part of the curriculum. Students at our Tampa Christian school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Bullying Prevention Program at NTCA

Bullying has lasting effects on all children: those who are bullied, those who bully, even those who witness bullying. It’s a complicated problem that requires community-based solutions. That’s where the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program at our Tampa private school comes into play. This research-based program helps make school a safer, more positive place to students by reducing bullying. It’s not a curriculum but a program that deals with bullying at every level of the school. 

Across the School

The bullying prevention program starts by training teachers and staff to deal with bullying problems. A schoolwide committee oversees the program, which starts with students filling out a questionnaire about the amount and types of bullying that take place. School staff watches over all the areas where bullying is likely to occur. When needed, the school holds schoolwide meetings for parents and events for parents and students. 

Additionally, students agree to follow four rules:

1. We will not bully others.

2. We will help others who are bullied.

3. We will try to include students who are left out.

4. If we know someone is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

In the Classroom 

Teachers start by informing students of the four anti-bullying rules. Then, they hold class meetings for students to talk about bullying. At these meetings, students learn why bullying shouldn’t happen and how to ask an adult for help if they witness or experience bullying. Teachers use positive reinforcement to encourage students to follow the rules. When the rules are broken, students face negative consequences. By enforcing the rules, teachers work to maintain a positive learning environment for their students. 

For the Students

Students who experience bullying on both sides benefit from the training school staff receives. The bullied students get support from the staff, who tell them what action will be taken to end the bullying. Students who bully others are given consequences as soon as possible, giving them the opportunity to learn from the experience. Teachers and other staff meet with both sets of parents in hopes that the bullying will not continue for either child. 

Beyond the Campus

There’s not a simple solution to end bullying in schools. It takes a community of caring adults and children who know what to do when bullying happens. Beyond the walls of the school, our leadership actively looks for ways to develop partnerships with community members to help carry the anti-bullying message to everyone who needs to hear it. Reducing the effects of bullying on our school community is a top priority. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.