Giving back when it seems like you have nothing to give

WRITING BY TYRIANA TERRELL | GRAPHIC BY AUTUMN RENDALL DONATIONS

Coming from a poor college student who’s barely able to pay tuition herself, I know what it’s like to feel like you have nothing to give. When you’re not in class, you’re at work to pay for the education you so desperately need, and when you do have a little time and money, like any other young adult you want to spend it on your own struggling self. Trust me I get it, time is money. But let me tell you, giving back does not always mean having to spend money, and it can sometimes take only a few minutes of your time. Here are three ways you can give back without breaking the bank:

Take an eco-friendly walk:

Next time you find yourself strolling down the street, do the environment a favor and collect trash as you go. For bonus points, recycle recyclable materials and trash non-recyclable items. Not only is this completely free, but it’s a great way to protect the environment whilst encouraging physical activity. And remember do not litter unless you want to make the Earth bitter.

Recommendation: Have rubber gloves, a trash picker or both handy

Donate clothing you don’t wear anymore:

You know that pair of jeans you have in that drawer, that you can no longer fit in but they’re just too good to throw away? No, just me? Okay well, I know we all have that piece of something in our closet that we pass up every time we’re looking for something to wear. You know what they say about one man’s trash. That might not be suitable to you anymore, but if it’s still in good condition there’s no reason it shouldn’t go to someone else. If you’re not able to take them to your local donation center such as Goodwill or Salvation Army, no worries, there are drop-off boxes all over the state of Texas.

Send a free card to St. Jude kids: What better way to give back to the community than by encouraging the kids. If you’re not familiar with St. Jude, it’s a children’s research hospital that specializes in treating “the toughest childhood cancers and pediatric diseases”. The first step in sending the free card is picking which artwork you want displayed on the card. Once you pick your design, you have two options. Option one, type your own message with a maximum of 200 characters, or option two pick a pre-written message. The last step is for you to sign the card and send it off. If you’re feeling especially generous there’s also an option for you to donate to the hospital, but it is not at all required.

The easiest thing to do is make excuses for why we don’t give back, especially when we don’t deem ourselves as being in a position to do so. The truth of the matter is, if we actively try to make a difference today for a better tomorrow, then we did our part. That’s all you can ask for.