Today is a great day to help those in need as you clean out your house post-holidays.

‘Tis the season of 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and full ones, “run/walks”, fun runs…. The list continues! Some of these events are 1) family friendly and 2) often support a cause or charity. What a great opportunity for you to promote physical fitness and support a cause/charity event all in one!

When donating to charities, consider unrestricted (not earmarked for a specific use) donations which allow the charity to use a portion of it towards overhead.

How can your family become a smart donor family? Here are some simple steps to follow.

The holidays may be over, but your family’s interest in and commitment to charity work shouldn't also end- it is a great time to make a new year’s resolution to begin, increase or sustain your family’s commitment to a specific non-profit organization, and help it do even more in 2017. Before you know it, you will have become instrumental in the success of your chosen organization.

If you have school-age children, I am sure you have received your fair share of donation drive flyers from your child(ren)'s school or classroom. Sometimes all of the different charity events and drives can feel a little overwhelming. One thing to remember is participating in these drives is voluntary and you can decide with your children which ones you would like to prioritize. But, more importantly, these school-based drives can be a catalyst to begin a discussion about the importance of giving back to those in need.