Kickstart Your Spring Cleaning

As the weather warms, snow melts, and buds sprout in gardens, it’s the perfect time to open the windows and let the fresh air in. Of course, this can sometimes lead to sweeping out the winter dust that settled in corners. This can lead to cleaning out closets, which can lead to a full spring cleaning.
In fact, this is largely how spring cleaning became a popular seasonal ritual. Back before homes were heated by furnaces, a central hearth with fire, and consequently soot, warmed cold winter days and nights. It also left quite a mess, especially as windows remained shut tight. Spring was therefore the perfect time for deep cleaning and a home refresh.

These days spring cleaning serves several purposes beyond a clean home. Setting aside time for an epic annual clean gives you the opportunity to find items that have gone missing or been misplace, to set expectations for the coming season, and to make room for summer items. The perfect summer serving dish, towels that got pushed to the back of the closet and other home items can appear during a spring clean out.

Benefits of Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning can increase not only your productivity, but also your overall happiness. When you spend time decluttering and organizing, you often end up saving time in the long run. You don’t waste time trying to find items you need to complete a task and eliminate distractions that encourage procrastination.

According to Steve Scoggin of Wake Forest Baptist Health, “removing dust, dirt and disorder from your environment provides you with a cleaner, more comfortable atmosphere so you can feel happier and more relaxed.”

Even as Covid restrictions have lessened, many of us are still spending a great deal of time at home. Many offices are still not back entirely which means our homes can be filled with allergens. A good spring cleaning can help sanitize and clean out the air in our homes.

Spring cleaning encourages us to really think about what we have and what we need. It can be the perfect time to purge unnecessary items that no longer serve us. This act can fill us with a sense of gratitude and help us stay aware of limiting unnecessary waste. Before immediately replacing with different or more things, make a plan to donate what you don’t need.

But even if you know it’s good for you, you might have some difficulty getting motivated to begin. Here a few tips to to get you going!

Tips to help you get started
Start with Quality Cleaning Products
Start by ensuring you have the right supplies. While it may not be exactly like buying new shoes, starting with new products containing ingredients or scents you love, can go a long way in motivating you to start.

Consider each room and make a list of what you’ll need. You’ll need a variety of cleaning tools like sponges, scrub brushes, and mops or brooms. The best products for spring cleaning include those that are good at disinfecting like wipes, surface cleaners, and special cleaners for toilets and bathrooms.

Air fresheners can also be a nice addition to a spring cleaning regime. They can keep your home smelling fresh and eliminate food, pet, and active kid smells!

Make a Plan to Stay Organized
Once you’ve got all your essential areas spic and span clean, you’ll need solutions to help keep everything organized. It’s easy to get caught in the clutter trap when you don’t have good storage solutions.

Think about which items will need a designated storage spot and how much you’ll need to access those items. If it’s not something you need on a daily basis, you might be able to manage with a large storage bin. These can be stacked and stored away for a season or two.

Open top storage bins are perfect for items you need to access regularly. These are great for stacking on shelves. Other spring cleaning organization products can include storage bags, garment bags, and extra hangers.

Be Mindful of What and How You Purge
Getting rid of old or no longer useful items can be liberating. But before you dump what you don’t want into the trash, consider options to help reduce, reuse, or recycle. If an item is in good condition and can be donated, research organizations that are willing to accept donations and package them accordingly.

Set up a tag sale with the items you no longer need or pass them along to a friend or a charity of your choice. You might make some money!

If your items are not in good condition, look for opportunities to recycle or up-cycle those goods. Old t-shirts can be cut into rags, old toys might be able to be fashioned into something else, and old furniture refreshed.

When all else fails, be sure to find the proper ways to recycle or dispose of your items so you don’t contribute unnecessary items to landfills.

Don’t Forget about Office Spring Cleaning
Whether you’re just starting to return back to the office or you’ve been working at a home office, your workspace could probably use a good cleaning. Stock up on additional cleaning supplies including tissues, wipes, and disinfecting sprays for the office.

As you transition from home to office, be sure to wash your hands carefully with soap or hand sanitizer.

Spring cleaning is a wonderful way to reset and refresh after a long winter indoors. Cleaning can help you remain healthy both physically and mentally so you are productive and happy.

Source: https://tru-vue.com/2016/03/spring-into-cleaning-with-five-ss/spring-cleaning-infographic/

Written by: Kathleen Siddell

No matter where you live —city or suburb, apartment or farm — pets are a rich part of our lives. These (often) furry family members are loyal friends and steady companions. They brighten our days and help keep us calm at night. While buying pets from a breeder or at a pet store can be convenient, it can be incredibly rewarding to find your pet at a rescue shelter.

It’s National Adopt a Pet week and we’re celebrating by spreading the word about the benefits of pet adoption. Rescuing an animal won’t just give you a loving pet, it will bring you years of happiness.

Getting your pet at a shelter can offer significant advantages compared to purchasing your pet from a breeder or store. Here are five great reasons to adopt instead of shop:

Help Save Lives
According to the ASPCA, “Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats).” The main reason is that shelters are overcrowded and the space is often needed to rescue more animals. Adopting a pet means saving a life.

But what’s even better than saving the life of one innocent animal? Saving the lives of several animals! When you rescue a pet, not only will you save their life, but you’ll be saving the lives of other pets who need the care of a shelter. By bringing home one pet, you’ll make room for another pet to take its place.

Receive Unconditional Love
There are tons of great reasons to get a pet but one of the best reasons to rescue a pet is because of the unconditional love your sweet, new BFF will give you. Bad day at work? Your pet will be waiting to welcome you home and love you with all their heart. Made a mistake? Your pet won’t care. They’ll be there with hugs and kisses for you. Need someone to talk to (and hoping to avoid bad advice or unsolicited feedback)? Talk to your pet. They love you for you, no matter what.

Get and Stay Active
Pets are wonderful companions for people of all ages because they help keep you active. Dogs love to take long walks and run around with their friends. This will help stay motivated and moving and even help you socialize more. Whether you take them to the dog park or even just around your block, pets will attract the attention of other pet owners and dog lovers.

Even cats —who sometimes get the reputation for being lazy and anti-social —often love to play as much as they love sleeping on your lap. Don’t forget to help keep your pets happy and active with fun toys and treats!

Rescues are Less Expensive
Owning a pet can be expensive. From food, to vet costs, to miscellaneous supplies, the money adds up. Adopting your pet from a shelter can save you a considerable amount of money. According to Labrador Training HQ, “Depending on the location and breed, most breeders run from $500 to $1500 for a pup.” Most shelters, on the other hand, only charge a small, nominal fee to adopt. Check with your local shelter to understand what to expect in terms of associated adoption costs.

Rescues (Usually) Require Less Training
While some rescue pets are babies, many are not. As such, most rescue animals have been at least partially trained. (They may not understand commands like “shake hands,” but they are likely potty trained. If you opt to buy from a breeder, plan to spend hours, days, and weeks training your pet. Because they’ve been living in shelters, many rescues are potty trained and socialized.

It may not seem such a big deal to train your pet but they are like little children. It can take some time to teach them the behaviors you want to instill.

They’ll Make You Happy
Pets have been shown to increase happiness. You can double this happiness with a rescue by introducing a new member to your family as wells as knowing you you’ve saved your pet from an uncertain fate.

What’s more, pets can help to reduce stress and help keep you feeling calm and fulfilled. The Humane society writes, “Not only do animals give you unconditional love, but they have been shown to be psychologically, emotionally and physically beneficial to their companions.” There is plenty of research to support the idea that pets provide owners with feelings of love and happiness.

Other Ways to Help
If adopting a pet isn’t quite right for you and your situation at the moment, but you’d like to help you local shelter in some way, consider pet rescue donations. Most shelters are always in need of money as well as certain in-demand supplies.

Some of the most common pet shelter donation items include blankets, collars, food bowls, treats and toys.

Whether you’ve got pets, looking to get a pet, or just an animal lover, consider the benefits of working with a shelter to rescue a pet before going through a breeder or puppy mill. The animals in shelters deserve a second chance and will be so excited to go home with you.

Be sure you’re well-supplied with a few choice items purchased at wholesale prices like with DollarDays. This won’t just save you money, but will also ensure you’re getting the best possible deal for quality products.

Source: https://labahnvet.com/adopt-shelter-pet/

Written by: Kathleen Siddell

Arizona Gives Day has taken place on the first Tuesday of April since 2013. This year, DollarDays is celebrating our 9th annual AZ Gives Day in the great state of Arizona. With a 24-hour campaign like this one, it’s so inspiring to see so many people participate and give back within such a short timeframe. This celebration is a collaboration between the Arizona Alliance of Nonprofits and the Arizona Grantmakers in order to help raise more money for all of the great nonprofit organizations in Arizona that are making a difference. Since the DollarDays headquarters is located in Phoenix, Arizona, we are extra excited to draw attention to this special day and also bring awareness to all of the deserving organizations and people who can benefit from your support.

What is Arizona Gives Day?

AZ Gives Day is an annual, 24-hour online giving campaign that occurs on the first Tuesday of April every year. While you can give back any day of the year, this year is dedicated specifically to giving back to nonprofit organizations in the state of Arizona. This is the 9th annual celebration, with many more to come!

What’s the point of Arizona Gives Day?

To give back to your community and some really great causes! You can make monetary donations that directly support your communities. Your donations are critical for these organizations to keep providing vital services to those in need. By making a donation, you invest in the future of Arizona and help nonprofits make a positive impact in your community.

How can I get involved?

Pick an organization with a mission that you’re passionate about and donate! There are many different ways to give back to your local community organizations, but when you make a monetary donation, they can choose to allocate the funds raised to an area where they need the most support. You can also share the donation link on your social media channels to inspire your friends and followers to donate as well. When you share an AZ Gives Day post from an organization’s website or social media, you are helping them gain traction and also new donors that can support their cause.

What Nonprofit Organizations participate?

Did you know that there are over 20,000 nonprofits in the state of Arizona? That’s a lot of different causes to support! You can find a full list of the organizations accepting donations here. The top mission areas include animal, arts & culture, community improvement, education, environment, health, human services, religions & faith-based, social advocacy, youth development, international & foreign affairs, mutual & membership benefit, science & technology, and economic development. You can narrow your search by looking through the available filters: primary mission area, secondary mission area, county – service area, county – headquarters, focus/demographic area, tax credit, matching dollars available, and leadership representation. With all of these available search criterias, you will be able to find the perfect organization to donate to!

For more information on Arizona Gives Day, please visit https://www.azgives.org.

Written by: Rachel Pollack

Nonprofit organizations that support children are among some of the most charitable causes to donate to. When choosing to donate to an organization that directly supports children, there are many different types of items that you can provide that will make a positive and lasting impact on their lives. Different types of donations can be made to support infants, toddlers, young children, and children in school up to the age of 18. We’re here to help you pick the most impactful donations for each age group. Check out our suggested donations below!

For infants:

When picking out items for babies, think of the basic items that all babies need in order to stay healthy and safe. The most obvious items will always be the best to choose so you make sure to cover the absolute basics. Diapers and sensitive baby wipes will be among the most critically needed items for this group because they go through them extremely quickly and on a daily basis. You may also want to include skin protectants such as Petroleum Jelly, Zinc Oxide Ointment for diaper rash, and Vaseline for cuts, scrapes, or burns. Another popular donation item is baby blankets which help keep infants warm and comfortable in their cribs.

For toddlers:

A great donation choice for toddlers includes both coloring books and writing instruments. This is the age where they begin to scribble and doodle, and a way for them to start being creative is a great donation. The toys available for children this age offers a very broad and exciting range. Plush toys are a perfect donation for toddlers because there are dozens of different animals to choose from which can give them a lifelong friend. From bears to dogs to unicorns to frogs, you can’t go wrong with any of these choices. Other great toy options are development, STEM, and learning toys which will help toddlers with colors and shapes, math and numbers and letters, music, science, and many other important educational values.

For young children:

Children who are in school from the ages of Kindergarten to middle school require many different items for their everyday lives. Backpacks, school supplies, and accessories are top donation items for this age group because they are just starting out in school and need to collect all of these essential items to excel. Toys and games such as games and puzzles, outdoor toys, dolls, cars and vehicles, building sets and blocks, pretend play and dress-up, and action figures and playsets are among some of the most popular toys for this age group.

For teenagers:

Donating for in-need teenagers requires you to think outside of the box. All teenagers want to feel comfortable in their minds and bodies and also just want to be like every other teenager their age. It’s extremely important for teenagers going through puberty to have access to hygiene items. Basic personal care items like deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, and razors are especially important for this age group. When donating items for teenagers, it’s very important not to forget necessary items for young women such as pads, tampons, and other feminine hygiene items. Beauty products such as hair, nail, and face care will also be very popular for young women in this age group.

For all ages:

For kids of all ages, the donation options are endless! Clothing and shoes and personal care products are definitely some of the most essential items for children of all ages. Not just clothing and shoes, but don’t forget about necessary undergarments such as socks, underwear, and bras. Backpacks and school supplies are also a great option when donating to children attending school since they need all of these supplies in order to learn and excel in school. In the Winter time, donations such as winter wear and blankets would be a great donation since all children living in cold climates need to stay warm and healthy during the Winter season.

We hope you found some great donation options to donate to your local and national children’s organizations. No matter what direction you choose to go in donation-wise, these children will be beyond thankful for your kindness and support. Each and every donation received has the ability to make a long-lasting impact on the lives of these children. Reach out to your favorite children’s charities and see how you can help today!

Written by: Rachel Pollack

As we enter Spring, tornado season is officially upon us. When disaster strikes, many people and communities can be left with nothing. While we can’t always control the damage of a natural disaster, such as a tornado, we can prepare with all of the essential items we need beforehand. Being prepared before a tornado occurs can help alleviate some of the inevitable stress that comes with great loss. Having disaster relief materials on hand will allow you to be equipped and ready to act as quickly as possible.

When your community receives a tornado watch notification, it means that a tornado is either headed in your direction or already in its beginning stages. This is the time to take cover and grab your emergency assistance supplies. Make sure everyone in your household is aware of where the emergency supplies are being stored to help limit the panic. Being prepared is your strongest weapon in this situation.

Identify a safe place for cover.

Tornadoes are extremely violent and can destroy any type of structure. With the aggressive force of a tornado, it’s vital to avoid windows and areas in which items can fly and hit you. If you’re in a public place, it would be best to locate the closest public shelter area. Safe shelters are often basements because they have no windows and are located at the foundation of the house. When taking shelter, make sure that you gather everyone in your house with you, including adults, children, and pets. Because your pets don’t know what’s going on, it’s vital to make sure to carry them with you. Having pet supplies in your emergency shelter supplies will also be extremely helpful should anything happen.

Create an emergency relief kit.

Having the right materials when disaster strikes can save not just your life, but those around you as well. Disaster relief supplies are often overlooked because natural disasters do not occur on a daily basis. Making sure you have these materials can make a huge difference.

Here are some of the top things to put in your emergency relief kit:
1. First Aid Kit: Bandaids, petroleum jelly, a thermometer, sterile pads, cleaning towelettes, Tylenol or Ibuprofen
2. Emergency blanket
3. Emergency purified drinking water
4. Flashlight
5. Hand/toe warmers & ice packs
6. Rain poncho
7. Bedding & Bath: Blankets, pillows, towels, sleeping bags

If you lose power or don’t have access to a microwave, oven, refrigerator, or equivalent, don’t forget about food and snacks! Here are some things to keep in your disaster relief food pantry:
1. Tuna or chicken in a can
2. Cereal or pop tarts
3. Granola bars or pretzels
4. Nuts or trail mix
5. Cookies or chips
6. Clean drinking water or bottled water & drinks

For clean up efforts, be sure to stock:
1. Garbage bags
2. Dustpan
3 Broom
4. Paper towels
5. Sponges
6. Gloves
7. Disinfectant wipes
8. Dish soap
9. Antibacterial wipes or hand sanitizer
10. Extra clothes & socks
11. Hygiene kits
12. Flip flops, rain boots, or sneakers
13. Jackets or coats

Lastly, here are some non-essential, great items to have on hand:
1. Coloring books & writing instruments
2. Sudoku, word search, & crossword puzzle books
3. Books

Tornado season is upon us and we want to make sure you’re as prepared as possible. Your safety is extremely important, and you should have the materials you need to keep yourself, your family, your friends, and your community safe. DollarDays is here to help you every step of the way. If you have a specific type of natural disaster that hits your area, reach out and let us help you secure the items you’ll need most. Did disaster already strike? We’re here to help you recover quickly. Thank you for trusting us and letting us assist you in this time of need.

Written by: Rachel Pollack

What are your favorite causes to support?

My favorite causes to support are animal rescue organizations and children’s organizations. I love supporting The Humane Society of Southern Arizona because I rescued my dog from there, but there are hundreds of rescue groups I support around the country that are making a difference and saving animals. I also love to support Girl Scouts because of the importance it teaches young women by building confidence and helping to make the world a better place. And for a plus – they have delicious cookies!

What women are you inspired by and why?

I am inspired most by my mother and my sister. My mom is the most caring, generous, giving, and loving person. Her and my dad give back to organizations and charities constantly, and I truly admire them for that and want to follow in their footsteps. It’s so important to be kind and to support those in need, in your community, and also those around you. My sister has the same amazing qualities. She is a middle school English and Language Arts teacher who makes a difference in children’s lives every day. I am also inspired by all of the women who stand up for what they believe in and go after what they want in life.

– Rachel

What are your favorite causes to support?

Woman Deliver and the American Diabetes Association.

What women are you inspired by and why?

All women inspire me. All walks of life are different, learning and growing from each other is the greatest gift. I am thankful for my birth mother and what she provided but am also grateful for all the other females who helped guide and shape the world that it is today for women everywhere! From the woman I have worked with over the years that have shown me just what a Girl Boss is to Mother Teresa and Princess Diana who taught us kindness and patience to Angela Merkel and Condoleezza Rice both women breaking political barriers to Rosa Parks and Frida Kahlo who endured racism and mass criticism for their beliefs and actions; of course, I could go on. These women were not afraid to make waves, I’m sure they had a Grandma like mine who when things got rough would say, “Shut up and ski!”. Meaning that when things aren’t as expected or when “the water is cold” look around, see the opportunities and blessings beyond the moment.

– Courtney

What are your favorite causes to support?

There are so many causes, and all are tied to my heartstrings, However, there are two that stand out or hit home for me. “Harpers Heart” and “Fear 2 Freedom”.

What women are you inspired by and why?

All women in general! We all come from different walks of life. However, when we come together, we overcome, share, and lift one another, it is that powerful! We as women tend to focus on anything and everything other than ourselves. I believe as a woman it’s important to love one another, but extremely important to love oneself.

– Dana

What are your favorite causes to support?

Any cause that supports families and children. To me, family is the foundation of who you become in life and children are our future. If they are supported and loved, they can change the world. (Fun fact I used to be a Head Start teacher).

What women are you inspired by and why?

Currently, my daughter who is a young woman! I see her and it inspires me to be strong, resilient, and to look at the world with a tender heart.

– Yuri

What are your favorite causes to support?

My favorite cause to support is children in foster care. My mom has taught every child deserves loving parents; this can be detrimental to a child’s development.

What women are you inspired by and why?

I am inspired by women in education and mothers. To have the patience and to sacrifice your life for children is the most honoring thing and can change a child’s life significantly for the better.

– Berea

What women are you inspired by and why?

They have courage and are very inspiring to do and say the right things in assisting to make this world a better place for all. Some of my favorite quotes are:

“Success isn’t about how much money you make. It’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” – Michelle Obama

“When they go low, we go high.” – Michelle Obama

“You may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise.” – Maya Angelou

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” – Maya Angelou

What are your favorite causes to support?

My favorite causes are NAACP and Child Trafficking in the U.S.

– Candace

What are your favorite causes to support?

Make a Wish AZ, YMCA San Diego South Bay, Big Brothers Big Sisters

What women are you inspired by and why?

My mother, sister, and amazing colleagues!

– Kim

What are your favorite causes to support?

My favorite cause is to support children in need for any reason.

What women are you inspired by and why?

I’m inspired by Michelle Obama and her work with children and strong leadership.

– Linda

What are your favorite causes to support?

I support children’s programs for reading readiness.

What women are you inspired by and why?

I admire women such as Laura Bush and Michelle Obama who both forged strong reading programs during their husbands’ terms in office.

– Cathy

Written by: Rachel Pollack

Fidget toys have gained major popularity since 2017 and now can be found in the majority of households all over the world. Fidget toys are not just toys, but they have the ability to help both children and adults in their everyday lives by providing some much-needed relief. With so many distractions in our world today, fidget toys can be helpful for those who need to focus, concentrate, or learn. Fidget toys are also very helpful for people who have been diagnosed with or are experiencing anxiety, OCD, ADHD, psychological stress, or general nervousness.

With COVID-19 and students having to make the switch to online learning, more and more children started using fidget toys to help them concentrate and focus while learning from their homes, which offer so many distractions already. Even with the shift back to in-person learning in a physical classroom, fidget toys remain popular in the classroom setting as well. There have been trends of teachers providing them to students in need, but students have also been bringing in their own favorite fidget toy of choice. It’s been widely accepted that teachers and educators allow these students to use fidget toys in classrooms to help offer them some relief.

We’ve seen the same pattern in adults. Using fidget toys helps them focus and pay attention when in Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings while working from home. Staring at a screen for long periods of time can make you feel restless and fidgety. The use of fidget toys can even help if you’re feeling anxious or nervous. If you’re the type of person who gets anxious when giving a presentation in front of a group at work, if you’re working from home, you can use the fidget toy to help ease your anxiety by using it when these feelings arise. They can make you feel calmer, and overall help improve your performance in high-stress situations. While many adults are starting to go back to the office full time or working through a hybrid model, the fidget toys will continue to be useful for adults both in and out of the office.

With all of the different types of fidget toys that exist today, we’re breaking down all the types of toys you can fidget with:

Fidget Spinners

The fidget spinner is one of the most well-known fidget toys around. These are among the most popular toys in the development, STEM, and learning area. One of the hottest toys in all of 2017 was the fidget spinner, which we saw use being mostly for children and adults with ADHD. Even if you don’t have one of these diagnoses, you most likely have owned or played with a spinner before.

Pop Its

The pop its are a crowd pleaser and favorite pick when it comes to fidget toy preference. They allow you to focus your attention on popping out all of the bubbles or circles with your fingers and then popping back them the other way. This helps keep you concentrated while creating a soothing sound that is very satisfying to the ear. The motion of the pop its help those who are experiencing stress and/or anxiety. It’s also a great choice for those with autism or ADHD.

Slime and Putty

Slime and putty are some fidget toys that you probably wouldn’t think of as a fidget toy. With all of the newer and trending types of STEM, learning, and fidget toys, these are often looked over. Slime and putty are considered fidget toys because they keep your hands busy and moving, the same as spinners and pop its. You may see putty and slime on the desks of students at school, or maybe the teacher in your child’s classroom provides them with one to use when they need it. You can also find these on the desks of people at work in their offices, being used in meetings, or used during travel as traveling makes many people feel anxious or stressed.

How DollarDays Can Help

When shopping for the most popular fidget toys, look no further than DollarDays. You can find pop it fidget toys in bulk and donate them to your favorite children’s organization, school classroom, and many other charitable causes and organizations. Is your child having a birthday party? These also make awesome party favors for your goody bags! Look no further for fidget spinner case packs. We’ve got you covered with a variety of fun designs and colors in every case pack. Want to go with the original fidget toy – slime and putty? We have a variety of different types available for you to choose from.

Written by: Rachel Pollack

Valley of the Sun United Way is a nonprofit organization that’s making a difference in Phoenix, Arizona by providing human and health care services, as well as financial stability programs for families. The mission statement reads, “Valley of the Sun United Way envisions a community where every child, family, and individual is healthy, has a safe place to live and has every opportunity to succeed in school, in life, and in work.”

Since the DollarDays main office is also located in Maricopa County, we find it important to do what we can to support the local heroes in our area. Some of the DollarDays staff spent their Saturday volunteering and packing food hunger kits for the members in our community. As a company that serves nonprofit organizations, schools, small businesses, and more, we find it key for our staff to volunteer when they can and help contribute to the community in which we’re located.

Many nonprofit organizations fill in the gaps for people by providing certain services that are relied upon on a normal basis. Valley of the Sun United Way has a monthly project where they have volunteers to pack food hunger kits for the families in which they serve. These food hunger kits include some of the following items: canned chicken protein, oatmeal, apple sauce, crackers, and a granola bar. Non-perishable food items are a top donation with organizations that provide people with food because they will not spoil and they have a long shelf life. This specific kit also includes an encouragement card that’s purpose is to make a child’s day. When a child goes to get their food hunger kit, their stomachs and hearts become full because they get to have a nice bagged meal along with a personalized note of encouragement that makes them feel special.

This specific volunteer event was held at the Phoenix Community Toolbank, a nonprofit organization that is a tool lending program that provides organizations access to an inventory of tools for use in volunteer and community benefit projects. Being able to volunteer with two local nonprofits in our community left our team feeling inspired and ready for the next opportunity to volunteer.

Written by: Rachel Pollack

For over 20 years, DollarDays has been a trusted supplier to thousands of nonprofits, schools, small businesses, and philanthropic organizations. By providing critically needed goods and friendly support, the DollarDays team strives to help community heroes accomplish great missions. Our team is 100% committed to supporting you every step of the way and sharing the same passion for your cause with you.

The act of giving means you’re opening up your heart and providing those in need with the items they need in their everyday lives. Giving back often makes us feel empowered and good about ourselves, because it’s one of the most important and selfless acts we can do. At DollarDays, we’re introducing a new campaign called “Selfless Saturdays.” Selfless Saturdays will be a day where we empower all of our customers to give back to their communities and provide emotional support, financial support, and donations of goods to the organizations and missions they care about. This is a day to promote a little extra kindness, and we want you to be mindful of those less fortunate.

If giving a monetary donation or a donation of goods isn’t in your budget or something you’re interested in, there are plenty of other ways to give back. You can also donate your time by volunteering with a charity or organization of your choice or even host your own fundraiser such as a collection drive where people donate to your cause and then you donate as a group.

Let’s look at all of the reasons that will motivate you to GIVE:

Giving back can make you feel good

Giving to charity is a known mood booster. Being able to make a difference in another person’s life, in the community, or in the world as a whole, can leave you feeling extremely empowered. Being able to contribute to the overall greater good can be a very simple yet rewarding motivation to donate to different charities and organizations. It makes you feel good when you donate to a Facebook fundraiser because your friends and followers can see that you made a donation, and it will empower them to make their own donation. This can also drive people to host fundraisers and donation drives because it serves as a social activity while getting to spend time with your friends and families while giving back to the communities that you care about. Did you know that studies have shown that volunteering and giving back have actually made people feel happier and healthier?

You can play a direct role in creating a positive impact in your community

There are so many worthy causes that are extremely worthy of our attention. It’s important to draw attention to all of the types of nonprofit organizations and groups that are making a difference in our communities and in our world overall. There are homeless shelters, animal rescue organizations, religious organizations, education organizations and schools, food banks and distribution centers, social services, wildlife conservation, museums and art galleries, financial aid services and scholarship funds, environmental conservation and protection, youth development and services, disaster relief, human rights, and so many more!

There is no donation too small

The smallest amount can make a huge impact. You may think that donating just $1 or $5 won’t be enough to help people, but that is simply untrue. Your donation, no matter the size, can still create a positive impact on many lives. A lot of nonprofit organizations and charities will have matches created by major donors, businesses, and corporations, that allow them to double or even triple your donation. If you give $1 and a donor promises to match all donations made during a certain time period by doubling the impact, then your donation will be worth $2. If you made a donation of $1,000, your donation will end up making an impact of $2,000 with a match. Providing a single can of soup can also make a huge difference. One can of soup will give one person a meal. Just think of the difference we could make if every person donated just one canned good item to a charity of their choice.

You can contribute your skills

Did you know that you can volunteer your skills to different nonprofit organizations? There are many different types of organizations. We have local organizations, national organizations, and even international organizations. If you check out different websites of your favorite charities and missions, you’ll see that they often ask for volunteer support in addition to donations. You can volunteer at a soup kitchen by helping to serve meals to the homeless, but there are so many other ways you can contribute your skills.

Many organizations are limited in the number of employees and paid staff members that they have. If you have special skills in your professional lives and jobs, you may be able to volunteer your skills. This means that if you’re in the field of event planning or entertainment, you can volunteer your services to help an organization plan its annual fundraiser that helps raise money for their cause. If you’re in the field of accounting or finance, you can help the organization file their taxes, or perform an audit for them as needed. The possibilities are truly endless on how you can contribute your skills to help the greater good.

Join us!

DollarDays is passionate about giving back. We hope after reading this that you’ll be just as motivated and passionate about giving back to the community. If we work together, we can accomplish great things. Join us every week to celebrate #SelflessSaturdays!

Written by: Rachel Pollack

Valentine’s Day is a holiday in which we celebrate love and romance. Every year on February 14th, people all over the world celebrate Valentine’s Day in different ways. Some celebrate with their significant others, some celebrate with their friends, some celebrate with their families, and some celebrate with their pets. Some of the most popular gifts bought on Valentine’s Day include flowers, chocolates, candy, stuffed animals, jewelry, and of course, a heartfelt hallmark card to go along with it. The popular activities and outings for Valentine’s Day include dinner dates, movie dates, spending quality time with your loved ones, and more. While there are many classic and traditional ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day, there are many other ways to celebrate other than just the obvious choices. Let’s dive into some really great and charitable ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day and spread love to others around you and in your community.

Volunteer Your Time

Spend your day volunteering at your favorite nonprofit organization! Look up your favorite organizations and fill out a volunteer application. Many organizations will require you to fill out a form before showing up to volunteer, so be sure to check out their website before heading over for your volunteer shift. You can use the popular search engine, VolunteerMatch, to find volunteer jobs that best fit your schedule and the causes you’re passionate about. Don’t forget about your local organizations, as you’ll be able to make a direct positive impact on your community. Some organization recommendations for you: animal rescues and homeless shelters.

Send Love Letters

Aside from writing a love letter to your significant other, there are other ways to write some meaningful and kind love letters to people and organizations that are making a positive impact on your community and in the world. Nonprofit organizations work hard and spend all of their time focusing on making the world a better place. The overall appeal to do good has inspired many people to go into charity work as a career. It’s important we acknowledge all of the good work these individuals are doing in our communities, and the best way to do that is by writing a love letter expressing your gratitude and appreciation. Network for Good tells you how to write a love letter to a nonprofit, step by step. You can be as brief, or as in-depth as you want. You can send little notes or purchase packs of Valentine’s Day cards to use. Feel free to be creative and make your own cards in marker or crayon and stickers to make it extra special!

There are many nonprofit organizations that solely support children and teenagers. Save the Children is a great organization to send inspirational notes to. You can write messages like: “I want to let you know you’re loved,” ”always be yourself,” “you’re stronger than you think,” or “believe in yourself.” These messages go a long way when you’re writing to a child because they often need more support and encouragement than an adult. Don’t forget to be compassionate and thoughtful. It would be a good idea to stay away from using religious passages or phrases, as you don’t know the religion of the children you’re writing to.

Other popular organizations to send love letters to are animal rescues and shelters. Our shelters are packed with animals that are waiting for their forever homes and families. Try writing a love letter to a shelter pet and make them feel loved this Valentine’s Day. We are so lucky to have animals in our lives and we should share our love and appreciation with them! Look up some ways to write a love letter to a pet. You can check out a great example of how to do so here. You can also write a letter to future adopters on why they should rescue a dog or a cat from an animal shelter. This can be very persuasive and can help us clear out the animal shelters and connect more pets with their forever homes.

Host a Fundraiser or Donate

What better way is there to spend Valentine’s Day than spending quality time with your friends, families, and loved ones? Try hosting a Valentine’s Day-themed fundraiser at your house or a restaurant and get people together to support an important cause. You can even host a happy hour or dessert party if that’s more your style. Feel free to have fun with the theme and event type and be creative with it. Quality time with people you love and giving back to your community is a great combination! If you end up collecting money or items during your fundraiser, you can then go and donate it to your charity of choice. Have some fun with it and start an anonymous submission box where people can submit a charity they want to donate to, tally up the votes, and make your selection. There are so many worthy causes and organizations to choose from. Let your guests have a say in where the donations go!

How to Celebrate with DollarDays

Share the love this Valentine’s Day! Get some Valentine’s Day balloons that show your loved ones how much they mean to you. Want to send love letters to different nonprofit organizations making a difference in your community? Get the cutest Valentine’s Day greetings cards to spearhead your project. Need a Valentine’s Day backdrop for your party or classroom? We’ve got you covered. However you choose to spend this holiday of love, make sure you’re spreading kindness!