I believe the holidays are a fantastic time to give back to others. My family has always instilled amazing values in me, such as the importance of giving back and the power of making a difference. Every holiday I lived in Pennsylvania, I would go down to Philadelphia and feed the homeless at a food kitchen. We would walk up to different people who came in and hand them hot meals. We also had conversations with them, trying to make their day a little brighter.

I also remember that there was a piano in the corner of the room. I would always sing different holiday songs and musical theatre songs while my uncle played the piano. This was such a beautiful tradition. Afterwards, we would go out to eat at a Chinese restaurant and sometimes catch a movie.

The holidays are a great time to show appreciation to the people in your life, as well as give back when you can. Here are some ways you can spread kindness during the holiday season:

• Donate clothes and other items you no longer use
• Volunteer to serve food to the homeless
• Sing at a senior citizens’ home
• Pay for a stranger’s coffee
• Text someone to tell them you appreciate them
• Send someone a gift to show your appreciation
• Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while and ask how they’re doing
• Invite someone over to celebrate the holidays with you
• Throw a friend’s holiday party

Overall, giving back is important, and I encourage everyone to think about how they can give back during this incredibly special time.