It’s often said “to give is to receive.” Quite simply, the heart grows richer when it shares; in giving, we find life’s true treasures. At JIM Enterprises, we realize the true blessings we have been bestowed in order to serve the coastal and valley communities surrounding our two offices. Our partnerships with local school districts have allowed us to serve over 35,000 students throughout the years and over 7,500 parents. Both of these numbers are actively growing!
As we near the end of 2024, we have supported thousands of students and parents this year with the goal of only increasing that number in 2025. Through providing our academic support services after school, students receive structured tier 2 intervention through the means of our rotational model. They have the targeted support they need to address their learning gaps and build their confidence. Our parents receive foundational English Language support, social emotional work and engagement activities meant to foster a healthy school community as well as a healthy parent-child relationship.
By working with this many students and parents, we were able to successfully employ hundreds of academic professionals throughout the course of this year. This provides district and non-district employees competitive wages to supplement their full time jobs. It provides credentialed and non-credentialed staff the opportunity to grow their skills while receiving customized training based on the districts they work with. Our goal is to provide them with everything they need curriculum wise so their focus is not pulled in multiple directions and they can pour 100% into their students in the classroom.
10 Ways to Give Back During the Holiday Season
For us, at JIM Enterprises, we like to spread holiday cheer in our local communities by giving back. In particular, we donate our time to two local charities surrounding our coastal and valley offices to ensure non-profits in our areas feel supported during this busy time of year. Last year at our valley office, we were able to wrap presents and sort gifts for Lodi Adopt-A-Child. Their mission is “to assist underprivileged youth in the community with the resources and support needed to enjoy everyday life and to provide and promote opportunities from which each child may benefit.”
At our coastal office, we were able to support Dorothy’s Place. This non-profit’s mission is “With love, respect and compassion, Dorothy’s Place provides essential services and transitional support to people experiencing the injustice of homelessness and extreme poverty.” We were able to spend a few hours prepping and serving food for the community nearest to our Salinas office. It was truly awe inspiring to see how many families benefit from both of these organizations and the impact they have on a daily basis. We bonded as a team and will be back again this year to help the same non-profits.
We understand the holiday season can be hectic and stressful, and that oftentimes, funds are spread thin. We’ve put together a list of ways you can give back to your local community. While some of the options require monetary donations, we tried to keep in mind options that include volunteering your time rather than money alone.
- Volunteer at a Food Bank or Shelter
Help distribute meals, sort donations, or provide support at a local food bank or homeless shelter during the busy holiday season. - Donate Gifts to a Toy Drive
Contribute to programs like Toys for Tots to ensure children in need receive gifts and experience holiday joy. - Sponsor a Family
Partner with a local organization to “adopt” a family by providing gifts, meals, and essentials for their holiday celebrations. - Visit Nursing Homes
Spread cheer by caroling, sharing stories, or spending quality time with elderly residents who might feel isolated during the holidays. - Organize a Coat Drive
Collect new or gently used winter clothing such as coats, hats, scarves, and gloves to help keep those in need warm. - Donate Blood
Make a life-saving impact by donating blood or platelets through organizations like the Red Cross, which often experience shortages during the holidays. - Support Local Businesses or Charities
Purchase gifts or services from local businesses that give back to the community, or donate to charities supporting holiday causes. Keep in mind the impact your purchases have on small, family owned businesses. - Volunteer to Wrap Gifts
Offer your time to wrap presents at community fundraisers or stores raising money for charitable programs. - Organize a Neighborhood Clean-Up
Bring your community together to clean parks, streets, or public spaces, leaving the area beautiful for holiday visitors. - Send Holiday Cards to Hospital Patients
Brighten the season for hospital patients, including children or long-term care residents, by sending them personalized holiday cards through organizations like “Cards for Hospitalized Kids.”
Whatever way you choose to celebrate this holiday season, we hope you feel the warmth of the season and are able to surround yourself with those you hold dear. Just as in the beloved Dr. Seuss’ story of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” the Grinch was reminded of the transformative power of kindness, love, and community, we hope you are reminded of the same. We can each feel the transformative power of kindness, love, and community if we focus our efforts on the communal good this holiday season.
May Your Holidays Be Bright!
-The JIM Enterprises Team
