We all know that Christmas isn’t just about decorating the house and getting presents. So if you want to also give back this holiday season, consider volunteering for Christmas. From toy and food drives to helping families and children in need of housing and essential items, there are so many holiday volunteering opportunities this time of year. Some of the things we can do are so easy we don’t even have to leave our house to give back. And our kids can get involved too.
Let’s just remember to carry the spirit of giving back through the whole year, too, not just at Christmastime.
More from CafeMom: 5 everyday life lessons I learned from volunteering with the elderly
Shop an Angel Tree
The Salvation Army partnered with Walmart for the Angel Tree Program. Essentially, it allows children in need to create wish lists. Then other people shop those lists to make sure the kids wake up on Christmas with a few gifts. Some stores have these trees in person, so you can visit a Walmart to shop for the child. Or you can shop online.
Participate in Operation Santa
Another program that ensures children get gifts for the holidays is the US Postal Services’ Operation Santa. Kids who write letters to Santa can have their letters “adopted,” and volunteers then shop for the items on the list and ship them to the children. Letter adoption opens in 2024 on November 18.
Grant a Simple Wish
If fulfilling an entire wishlist is out of the budget, you can fulfill just a single wish with the One Simple Wish program. It partners with kids in the foster system to ask for one thing that we can then try to help them get. Sample wishes include cooking appliances, a trip to the movies, etc.
More from CafeMom: 20 Movies to Inspire Kids to Give Back
Send Cards
Receiving a letter or a Christmas card in the mail can make someone feel so loved. This is also a wonderful way to get our kids involved in giving back as well. Have them help write a letter to Love for Our Elders to make a senior citizen’s day. Or they can send a card to the troops via the A Million Thanks organization.
Food and Toy Drives
You might have grown up donating to things like canned food drives or toy drives. These initiatives are still around and continue to need our help. Organizations such as Feeding America can help you set up a food drive or you can input your zip code to find a drive near you. And the Toys for Tots local chapter locator will help you find a toy drive near you or give resources on how to start one.
Provide Meals
Donating packaged foods and canned items to local food banks is a good start, but there are also ways to give full, ready-to-go meals to those in need. Volunteer to deliver meals to seniors with Meals on Wheels or find your local chapter of the Ronald McDonald House Charities to see how you can provide a meal to a family in need. Kids can also collect soda can tabs to donate to RMHC to further its charitable efforts.
Help With Housing
The organization Habitat for Humanity helps families get decent, affordable housing. We can help its efforts by donating physical items such as power tools, furniture, etc. Or we can purchase these items online via the Habitat for Humanity gift catalog.
Foster a Pet
According to PetMD, animal shelters can get overwhelmed during the holidays. Signing up to foster a cat or dog not only frees up space in the shelter, but it also gives the animal a caring home while waiting for a forever home. Contact a local shelter to see if they have a foster program. Some may even have temporary programs just over the holidays.
Find Local Opportunities
Although these ideas are good options for many cities and towns, your community may have more specific or different needs. You can use Volunteer Match to input your zip code and find tailored volunteer opportunities at the local level. Some are in-person opportunities and others can even be done virtually.
Help Children Globally
Giving back on the local level is so important, but we can think globally as well. Save the Children provides essential items to those in need around the world. Shop the organization’s gift catalog to help donate things like mosquito nets, clean water, school supplies, and other necessities.
