This time of year, are you turning your pockets inside out to find nothing but lint? Wondering if you can stick an I.O.U. in a stocking that’s hung by the chimney with care? Believe me, I get it. I’m flipping sofa cushions looking for spare change. And we’re all so busy around the holidays that it can be just as tough to donate hours as it is to donate dollars to charities that depend on us.
You may, however, have an unexamined and unrealized resource to help you keep the spirit of giving going while not putting you in the red. Those frequent flyer miles that you’ve accrued but can never seem to redeem can be donated to your favorite charity or sometimes specific partner charities of the airlines. You needn’t open your wallet to make a difference. You can help without trying to get blood from a stone.
Your favorite charity may have system in place to make use of your donated miles, and your air carrier’s website will have their own specifics for donating, but here’s a quick roundup of links to explore:
American Airlines Miles for Kids in Need
Continental Airlines OnePass Charity Partners
Change by Doing 