The Giving Season

Nevaeh Buchanan

2023-2024 Vice President of Hospitality

DECA’s mission statement states that DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. During the months of November and December, we have the perfect opportunity to give back to this cause. Most don’t know how to give back to DECA during this season, but, in this article, we’ll discuss 3 ways that you can give back, both in DECA, and beyond!

Volunteer Your Time

Volunteer your time in your local DECA chapter by helping out with your coffee shop, or even propose the idea to your advisor to start one. A simple teacher appreciation gift from your DECA chapter will be welcomed during the giving season. Inside of school, volunteering may seem limited, but you can always help by holding the door. You can never get the time back that you spend, so spend it doing something that will make you and someone else feel appreciated. Outside of school, you can volunteer at local soup kitchens. Chapters can get involved at car shows by taking time to network with your community. When you volunteer, never think about the work, think about how others feel around you. Connect with your inner self to reach others with a simple gesture.

Donate Blankets, Gloves, Coats and More

Starting a drive to support those who are in need for the winter is important. With it becoming colder, supporting those and giving to the ones that need the support can bring life. Being that advocate leader means stepping up to support those around you. Leaders rise to the occasion when your team needs support. Your community as a whole is a team that should aim to support each other. We give what we can and take what we need in times of need.

Handwritten Letters

Handwritten letters are heartwarming! Sending someone a handwritten letter will be sure to brighten their day. Homemade items have more creativity and extra thought put into them. People may ask: where will I send the letters? The hardest times for people are to those who are in institutions, hospitals, or even nursing homes. They're isolated from their families, missing making memories. Writing letters to these individuals will lift them up - it might even change their life! This service encapsulates the true meaning of being a leader. To give someone memories and inspiration cost nothing. The thought counts the most when giving a gift.

Every day is a new day to make a difference. As young leaders, we should look to make this difference. Your community is the perfect place to start. The holiday season is filled with positivity, and we want to spread kindness throughout these months within our community. Utilize social media to grow your roots. Be the young individual that takes the initiative to start a new tradition within your own community that makes a difference during the giving season. As we all know, if you never try, you never fail, but you also never win. Be who you are, and be the reason why someone smiles.

THE DECA DIFFERENCE