Good Samaritan Society Holiday Volunteers
The Good Samaritan Society provides shelter and support services for seniors. Help out by putting up holiday decorations, accompanying seniors on holiday shopping trips, and spending time with seniors, many of whom don't have family near.Lyngblomsten Holiday Volunteers
Lyngblomsten, a senior residential home and support services non-profit, welcomes volunteers to help seniors make holiday gifts, tree ornaments and cards, wrap gifts, bake cookies, and generally spread seasonal cheer.Second Harvest Heartland Apple Washer
The unseasonal weather this fall lead to a surplus of apples in local orchards. Minnetonka Orchards donated their extra apples to Second Harvest Heartland, but volunteers are needed to wash, sort and box the apples before they can be distributed to local families.Enjoy the Holidazzle Parade and Holiday Lights
During the Holidazzle Parades in Minneapolis, the Emergency Food Shelf Network will be collecting non-perishable food and cash donations, and for every dollar and every pound of food, Ameriprise Financial will make a matching donation to the food bank.The annual Lights in the Park in St. Paul's Phalen Park is a display composed of over a million lights. Entry to drive through the park and see all the displays is $8-$10, depending on which day you visit, but all profits are donated to local food banks.
More Ways To Volunteers during the Holidays
If you want to serve a holiday dinner, check with your local churches and community organizations to see if they are serving a holiday meal.If you'd like to donate food for a holiday dinner, food banks across the metro area will be glad to accept non-perishable holiday foods, but in good time, to ensure that they can be given to needy families in time for Christmas.
How about donating a toy which will go to a child who may otherwise not have a gift to open on Christmas morning? Toys for Tots has over 100 toy drop-off locations in the Twin Cities for new, unwrapped toys.
How About Not Volunteering This Holiday Season?
The holidays are the most popular time of year to volunteer. In fact, many volunteer opportunities fill almost as soon as they are announced.
How about making a commitment to volunteer your time next year, when there's just as much demand on social services, but far fewer volunteers? Committing a few hours a month for the next year will be just as helpful to our community, there's a much wider range of opportunities available, and searching for an volunteer placement will be one less things to do during this busy holiday season. Just remember what you pledged to do, once the new year is here. Volunteer Match is a great place to start looking for an organization that would love the skills and enthusiasm you have to offer.
Happy Holidays!
