December always finds me rushing around – going from work, to holiday parties, to the next family gathering, to lunch with friends. This year is especially hectic, with less than 30 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We were talking about it at work the other day, about finding ways to pare down our celebrations while still keeping them joyful and fun so we could then make the holidays more meaningful by giving back to our community.

The conversation turned lively when the subject shifted to Club® Crackers and how they can make holiday menu planning simple. For example, arranging flaky, buttery Club® Crackers with two or three cheeses and pepperoni slices on a festive serving platter takes little time to prepare and provides an impressive spread for guests. Then, someone suggested that serving Club® Crackers and other simple party fare might give us time for more worthwhile activities.

What a great idea! Off we went to volunteer at a local food bank for a few hours, supporting families in the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo area who might otherwise go hungry.

It’s a problem that’s often invisible for most of us – and this was our chance to do something about it right in our own backyard.

Our latest social media video tells the story and encourages others to volunteer.

The Club® Crackers team also donated $25,000 to our local United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region to distribute 1.6 million servings of food to local area families.

This contribution and encouragement to volunteer supports our Kellogg’s Better Days global purpose platform, which works to address food security and fight hunger in the communities where we live and work around the world. Our goal is to create Better Days for 3 billion people by the end of 2030.

For most of us, there’s something about reaching outside ourselves and investing our time for the greater good that really warms the heart.

This year, consider simplifying your holiday routine. Skip the elaborate buffets. Pare down your party menus. You might just discover you have the gift of time – for people who really need it.

I guarantee you’ll feel a lot better about yourself, the holidays, and the world in general – just by volunteering through your local United Way. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.