Smart Benefits: Serve Up Wellness for the Holidays
Amy Gallagher, GoLocalProv Business/Health Expert
Smart Benefits: Serve Up Wellness for the Holidays
Kick off a new program for the New Year – Now. Don’t wait until 2015. Use this time to get employees excited about kick-starting their wellness activities again in the New Year to help them meet their resolutions. If you’re looking for new ideas, appoint a wellness ambassador if you don’t already have one. This person can champion your program by helping to develop and promote initiatives that will engage employees.
Boost Awareness, and Participation, with Holiday-Themed Communication. Over time, employees may tune out stale messages in posters or newsletters announcing your program offerings. To get their attention, tie in outreach with the season and keep it light – people want to feel good this time of year so appeal to their festive feelings by infusing some fun in your announcements.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHold a Holiday Countdown. Announce a four- or six-week contest to see who can drop the most weight before the end of the year. Hold weekly weigh-ins and then award a prize to the employee or team who loses the highest percentage of their starting weight – cash or vacation days are always a hit this time of year.
Healthier Hors-doeuvres. If you’re holding holiday gatherings for staff, keep the celebrations healthy with low-calorie snacks and drinks, and work with any restaurant or caterer to make sure good menu choices are available.
By unwrapping some new wellness ideas now, you can increase participation in your program and help workers jump-start healthy choices in the New Year.
25 Ways to Give for the Holiday Season
MAE for the Homeless
MAE Organization for the Homeless helps homeless individuals and their families heal from the traumas and anxieties of their situation.
The organization needs funding for a new facility and basic winter accesories - like hats, gloves, and hand warmers - and toiletries for those in need.
Photo: MAE Organization for the Homeless
RI Tutorial Services
334 East Ave., Pawtucket, RI
RI Tutorial and Educational Services (RITES) assists children who cannot afford tutoring services the help they need.
Donate or sponsor a child who suffers from dyslexia, or ADHD and help them learn and grow.
Photo: RITES
RI Food Bank
200 Niantic Ave, Providence, RI
Rhode Island Food Bank allows you to donate non-perishable food to needy families this holiday season.
Most needed items include: peanut butter, tuna, canned and dried beans, canned chili, soups and stews.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
59 Putnam Pike, Johnston, RI
Become a mentor to an at-risk child through Big Brothers Big Sisters of RI.
You can also donate clothing at their drop off points which is free and easy to do.
Gloria Gemma
249 Roosevelt Ave, Pawtucket, RI
Donate to breast cancer research this year with Gloria Gemma.
The organization also has walks which you can participate in or sponsor a friend.
Photo: Gloria Gemma
RI Foundation
One Union Station, Providence, RI
Rhode Island Foundation allows you to donate to any of the 1,300 funds estalished by generous Rhode Islanders.
Choose your cause and help one of the many organizations in your community that needs your support.
Confetti Foundation
78 Thames St., Newport, RI
Confetti Foundation uses donations to provide starter party kits for children who have to celebrate their birthdays in the hospital.
Each kit costs $22 to produce, and the organization is looking to reach it's goal of 500 boxes by December 31st this year.
Photo: Confetti Foundation
Rock Paper Scissors
38 Asa Pond Rd., Wakefield, RI
Rock Paper Scissors Children's Fund is an organization that supports music and art programs for children in Vietnam.
You can even donate a bike to children who often have to walk long distances to get to school.
Photo: Rock Paper Scissors Children's Fund
Khadarlis
105 Dodge St, Providence, RI
Khadarlis is an organization that is looking to fight poverty and social inequality in Rhode Island and Sierra Leone.
Khadarlis is focused on supporting the community with healthcare, educational services and other basic needs and supplies.
Photo: Khadarlis
New Urban Arts
743 Westminster St., Providence, RI
New Urban Arts was founded in 1997 and provides a community arts studio for students and emerging artists in Providence.
Donate your time as a volunteer to help mentor urban high school kids and help foster a supportive and creative community.
Photo: New Urban Arts
West Place Animal
3198 Main Rd., Tiverton, RI
West Place Animal Sanctuary volunteer your time to caring for animals in need.
You can also make a tax-deductable donation to support animals like Cleveland and Stewie at West Place.
Photo: West Place Animal Sanctuary
Rhode Island Blood Center
405 Promenade St., Providence, RI
Save a life this holiday by donating blood or platelets to Rhode Island Blood Center.
Donation hours are:
Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday 7:30 am - 2:00 pm
Photo: Rhode Island Blood Center
Amos House
415 Friendship St., Providence, RI
Amos House accepts monetary donations to support the training, housing, and recovery programs they provide for the hungry, homeless and unemployed in Rhode Island.
The organization also accepts donations in-kind such as gently used strollers, pillowcases, laundry detergent, baby formula, and first aid kits for the families who participate in their programs.
Photo: Amos House
Save the Bay
100 Save The Bay Drive, Providence, RI
Donate or volunteer at Save the Bay this holiday.
You can assist in clean ups and help preserve the natural environment of wildlife in Rhode Island.
Photo: Save the Bay
Hope Funds for Cancer
226 Bellevue Ave., Newport, RI
Hope Funds for Cancer Research holds special events every year to help raise money for young researchers looking for fellowship opportunities.
Become a philanthropist for the organization by attending, or make a gift to help fund cancer research in Rhode Island.
Photo: Hope Funds for Cancer Research
Support Our Troops
325 Laurel Ridge Ln., N. Kingstown, RI
Operation Support Our Troops sends care packages to members of the armed forces.
Give our troops a sense of home with your donation, and help them remember they are cared for. You can ever make a donation in honor of a soldier in your life.
Photo: Operation Support Our Troops
Project GOAL
79 Savoy St., Providence, RI
Project GOAL (Greater Opportunity for Athletes to Learn) aims to develop Rhode Island’s disadvantaged youth through after school tutoring and soccer-related programs.
Volunteer your time or support the staff at Project GOAL to help children in your community.
Operation Stand Down
1010 Hartford Ave, Johnston, RI
Operation Stand Down supports veteran female soldiers who have experienced hardship and homelessness in Rhode Island through their Cpl. Holly Charette House.
Help our troops come home and get back on their feet by donating to Operation Stand Down.
You can also help by organizing food drives for their other locations.
Sojourner House
386 Smith St., Providence, RI
Sojourner House, Inc. is a domestic violence agency that assists victims of relationship violence by providing shelter, advocacy and violence prevention education.
Donate to their safe house wish list with items like toaster ovens, small tables, pillows, fitted sheets, and pots and pans for their residents.
Photo: Sojourner House
Gaia Vaccine Foundation
146 Clifford St., Providence, RI
Gaia Vaccine Foundation accepts volunteers and donations to help immunize people around the world against AIDS.
The organization has recently won Bill and Melinda Gate’s “Grand Challenge Grant”.
Photo: Gaia Vaccine Foundation
Children’s Wishes of RI
2346 Post Rd, Warwick, RI
Children’s Wishes of Rhode Island grants wishes to children living with life-threatening medical illnesses.
Refer a special child in your life or donate things like air miles, and fundraising events to help them say “yes” to children in the community.
Photo: Children's Wishes of Rhode Island
Crossroads RI
160 Broad St, Providence, RI
Crossroads is the largest homeless services organization in Rhode Island.
Donate goods like baby diapers, non-perishable food items, and toiletries to the organization this year to help those who are homeless or at risk during these winter months.
Johnnycake Center
1231 Kingstown Rd., Peace Dale, RI
The Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale collects food and other items for its annual holiday program to help families in need and is run by youth volunteer members of Teen Jonnycake.
Donations are still needed for their December Holiday Food Baskets such as pancake mix, cereal, canned juice and soups.
Photo: Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale
Teddy Bear Toss
Friars Hockey will be teaming up with RIPTA on December 6 to donate teddy bears to the West End Community Center.
Make a child's holiday season just a little merrier by bringing a teddy bear to the Friars Hockey Teddy Bear Toss and enjoy the game!
RI CAN
805 Alton Carolina Road, Charlestown, RI
Rhode Island Center Assisting those in Need (RI CAN) is always looking for donations to their food pantry and accepts fresh, dry or frozen foods.
RI CAN also accepts articles of clothing, and furniture to give out to their clients.
You can also donate your time by volunteering at events.
