Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart. All opinions are my own and always will be! Thanks for supporting the content that keeps Jojotastic going.
I literally cannot believe how deep we already are into the month of December. 2021 has flown by! I’ve worked with Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart for over a year now and they typically give each of their partners a prompt or challenge to tackle for each of our monthly posts. But because of the major floods that have affected so many people in our community, they have been kind enough to let me alter the topic slightly. So today’s post is all about 4 last-minute gift ideas I was able to pickup from my local store and then donate to people who are rebuilding after the floods. To know I have a brand partner who wants to help my community means the world!
4 Ways To Help Those in Need This Holiday Season
Walmart makes it soooo easy to shop online at your local store and then pick up in the same day. They even bring your order out to your car and can load it into your trunk for you — when I went, I had the dogs with me and they even brought treats for them!
After picking up the items, I added a festive ribbon to each just to make the recipient feel a little bit more special. After all, everyone deserves nice things and a bit of joy, especially during the holiday season. Each of the items in this post were donated to individuals I found through our local community Facebook group, as well as our local food back and a local church. If you’re like to donate similarly, here are some suggestions:
- Post to your local Facebook group – you can list the items you have on hand to give or ask for a list of specific needs from people
- Reach out to community leaders like pastors and those who run food banks because often they know of specific families who could use the help
- When in doubt, you can always donate money, gift cards, and time spent volunteering
Here are my top 4 home decor items that are wonderful to donate (they’re also great last-minute gift ideas, too):
300 Thread Count 100% Cotton Wrinkle Resistant Sheet Set
When it comes to donating useful home items, sets of new sheets are at the top of my list, especially well-made ones like this. I loved that I was able to order 10 sets of these sheets for same-day pickup at our local store. It made it so easy to donate them, plus I could easily order a variety of sizes so that people could choose what will work best for them. Plus, the sheets are really well-made, so they will last for years as people continue to rebuild their homes.
Oversized Sherpa Throw Blanket
A cozy blanket is truly one of the best gifts you can donate to those in need. With winter already here in the mountains (it snowed this week!), so many people in our community need warmer layers. I personally love this sherpa throw because it comes in a super-cute buffalo plaid and is oversized.
We donated 3 of these blankets and they were actually the first items to be chosen!
Bath Towel Collection – 6-Piece Set
While I was working with a few local organizations here, I learned that there was a great need for new towels. We use these American-made cotton towels in our own home and I hope the recipients love them as much as we do. We decided to donate a few full sets in a variety of colors so that people could gets as many as they need and in a color they like, too. Just because they are rebuilding, does not mean they don’t deserve to choose their colors!
Pumpkin & Chai 12oz Scented 2-wick Candle
I chose to pickup a few of these scented candles to donate as well. Not just because they are my fave, but also because people who’ve lost their homes deserve a bit of joy and comfort, too. To me, that includes a cozy scent and the ambiance of a flickering candle.
We also tend to lose power frequently out here because of mudslides. Because of this, a candle felt like a good item to donate to help during our next outage, too.
More ideas for what to donate
I put a lot of thought into each of these items and how to maximize our ability to donate and give back. To me, each is functional, while also helping to restore a feeling of comfort and warmth. That is so important in helping people rebuild their sense of home after a storm.
Here are a few more ideas that would be great to donate this holiday season:
- quilts and comforters
- pillows
- dinnerware, glassware, utensils
- rugs
- bathroom textiles like shower curtain and bathmats
Even though these are items that I am donating, I also love these as last-minute gift ideas for anyone on your list.
I hope this post inspires you to try Walmart’s easy Pickup Today option while also taking a minute to consider way to donate and give back to your own community!
You might also enjoy:
Waltz of the Snowflakes Tablescape for Christmas
As a kid, I was very into ballet and being in this part of The Nutcracker was a goal of mine for years. When I finally achieved it, I was elated and have loved the music ever since. When Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart asked me to style holiday decor inspired by my favorite holiday music, I knew it was the perfect time to play The Waltz of the Snowflakes and put together an all-white tablescape for Christmas.
Our Christmas Eve Traditions, New & Old
When Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart asked me to share my favorite holiday memory, I immediately knew what I wanted to share… as well as two really great gift ideas that just might inspire your own holiday gift giving this year!
