Ten ways to use your tax refund to help others

By Tina Cole-Mullins

Pictured: Rita Gabrys of Elder Ridge Manor. Order one or two floral arrangements for a common space adult care facility. You’ll brighten someone’s day. Photo credit: Cassidy Thomas

All too soon, it’s tax time again. You might be dreading to do your return, dreading what you will owe, or happily anticipating the refund to come. With your refund, you may pay your bills, stock the pantry and fill the freezer. These actions could give you a little peace of mind over the next few months. But to really put a smile on your face and feel good, why not try these rewarding ways to spend your refund locally?

1. Donate to a local outreach or nonprofit group helping the community. These groups do vital work on various levels. The Stockbridge Community Outreach; Lions and Lionesses; SRSLY Stockbridge; Munith/Stockbridge Pay It Forward; Their Guardian, Their Voice (formerly Angels for Animals) are a few examples. A list of these groups and resources can be found in the Stockbridge Community News December issue (available online). SCN, also nonprofit, provides a newspaper, website and Facebook page to the area and is a great asset to the community. There’s something special about seeing the people in your own community benefit from a little generosity.
2. Contact the local school or your child’s teacher.There is always a need for additional supplies or funds at every level and aspect of education. You may purchase extra supplies and drop them off at school. But more often than not, a teacher may need something extra for an upcoming assignment or project. Field trips, too, are costly for parents and a class budget. Your donation can help offset the cost of those educational opportunities.
3. Buy flowers and visit an adult care facility.Country Petals Floral offers great floral arrangements, and you can order one or two for a smaller adult care facility like Elder Ridge Manor. The smaller homes may appreciate floral arrangements for a common space for all the residents, instead of personal deliveries. Larger facilities with a more social environment, such as Wellbridge of Pinckney or Chelsea Retirement Community, may allow you to bring in individual flowers or arrangements to hand out. You’ll brighten someone’s day.
4. Buy new personal clothing items for local outreach. Everyday clothing items — socks, underwear and bras – are often overlooked items, and they’re among the most requested. These sorts of items cannot be donated used, and many donors don’t realize the tremendous need.
5. Pay it forward. No, not the local Facebook outreach group, although that is not a bad idea. But try the act of paying for the drive-thru order behind you, or better yet, the handful of groceries for the person in line behind you. You never know, that handful of groceries may be all that person has for a while. You could be the person who makes a true difference in that individual’s life that day.
6. Make a donation to the library.Friends of the Stockbridge Library not only focuses on the needs of the library resources, but also aids in literary needs such as the summer reading program.
7. Spend a guilt-free night out at a local restaurant.Seeing the smiles of loved ones when you take them out to a local establishment is sure to put a smile on your face. Not often can you say you spent a guilt-free night out, and what better way to breathe a breath of fresh air into the local economy?
8. Throw a pizza party for the fire department. Contact the local office and make arrangements to host a pizza party. Volunteer to order pizza for an upcoming training session or meeting.
9. Spend time with family at kid-friendly activities in town.Take the kids bowling at Stockbridge Bowl and pay for another family’s game while you’re there. If bowling isn’t your thing, you enjoy dinner and Kids Night Out on Tuesday nights at the Back Street Bar & Family Restaurant.
10. Plan a day event with a group at the EchoCenter. This hidden gem within a gem, right here in the community, is a nonprofit focused on giving back to the community while spotlighting various charities. You can book an outdoor group event for a day adventure. The center features a zip line and low level rope course, picturesque walking and bike trails, an indoor meeting space and a kitchen. Guests are encouraged to donate items to a charity, pre-selected at the time of booking the event, along with the minimal facility use fee. For more information, go to echocenter.org.

No tax refund this year? You can still reap a little smile from a charitable contribution. Many of the organizations mentioned above accept monetary donations. These 2018 gifts may be deducted as charitable contributions as allowed under the new tax bill for the current year’s taxes.