Cash is always the most appreciated donation if you want to support a local food pantry, but so are things that are considered “nonessential.” Donate cake mixes, frosting, candles and a cake pan so families in need can celebrate a holiday or birthday. You can give cookie mixes and brownie mixes, too. And consider spices to help bring flavor to staples like rice, canned vegetables and beans.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you shop online, opt for ground shipping instead of overnight. Yes, it’s cheaper, but it’s also better for the environment because it minimizes air shipping, which uses more fuel and has a higher carbon footprint than ground transport. Even better, if you work in an office, have your items shipped there. There's a very high likelihood that a delivery truck already makes regular stops at your office or to businesses nearby, which means you won’t be creating an extra trip.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Gift experiences instead of physical items. We waste about $9 billion every holiday season on gifts that are returned or thrown away. Focus on experiences like day trips or meals in restaurants, or cover the cost of digital services they already use like Netflix, Spotify or online workout classes. And forget gift cards: Nearly $23 billion in gift cards goes unused in the U.S. If you have unused cards, CharityGiftCertificates.org lets you give balances of any amount to a whole host of charities for animals, the environment, the unhoused, disaster relief, and fighting hunger and disease.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION