Looking to volunteer for the holidays? One of the best gifts you can give this Christmas is your time. Here's where to find local Minneapolis/St. Paul and Twin Cities non-profit organizations and charities who will greatly appreciate you volunteering your time to help local people and animals in need this Christmas.
Popular holiday volunteer opportunities fill up fast, so if what you want to do is already taken, remember that there's all of the next year to volunteer too, and it will help needy folks just as much.
Salvation Army Holiday Volunteers
The Salvation Army is one of the most prominent non-profit organizations during the holidays, and they need plenty of people to help out at Christmas time. Many of the opportunities don't need any experience save the willingness to help out. The Salvation Army needs people to prepare and serve Holiday meals, help get toys to needy children, and even sing carols. Apply online for volunteer positions at the Salvation Army's website.Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly Holiday Volunteers
Little Brothers needs volunteers to prepare and serve Holiday meals at their Minneapolis and the St. Paul location, and to deliver Holiday meals to elderly folks who can't get to either Little Brother's center.Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis Holiday Volunteers
Volunteer distributing gifts to children and adults, shop for Christmas gifts and holiday meals, or join the Adopt A Family program to give a needy family Christmas gifts and holiday meals.People Serving People Holiday Volunteers
People Serving People is a homeless shelter in Minneapolis. Serving holiday meals is a popular volunteer activity at this time of year, but if all the volunteer positions are full, consider signed up and volunteer some time in the new year? People Serving People have a holiday wish list of items needed in their shelter, with Target, and picking up an item or two while holiday shopping will help out the families at the shelter.Meals on Wheels Holiday Volunteers
Delivering meals to homebound disabled and elderly people in the Twin Cities is the classic for Meals on Wheels volunteer position, but Meals on Wheels also needs people to help with many other tasks if you don't want to drive.Kaposia Holiday Volunteers
Kaposia helps seniors and disabled individuals find and keep employment and to be active in the community. During the holidays, cheer giving volunteers are needed to help make greetings cards, assist with holiday parties, and help take seniors on a day trip to Macy's Santaland.VocalEssence Concert Ushers Holiday Volunteers
VocalEssence's choral shows are some of the most popular holiday concerts in the Twin Cities. They need volunteers to make the shows run smoothly, and are looking for volunteer ushers for their holiday shows. A perk of volunteering for VocalEssence is that after 20 hours of volunteer work, volunteers receive two tickets to a VocalEssence show.Neighbors, Inc. Holiday Volunteers
Neighbors, Inc, is a South St. Paul community organization helping low income families. They have a large wishlist of food items and gifts you can donate that will be distributed to needy families, and also need volunteers for several holiday-related tasks.Simpson Housing Services Holiday Volunteers
One of the best ways to help a homeless shelter like Simpson is to organize a donation drive. Rally co-workers, family or group members to put together holiday food baskets, buy gifts or winter clothes, or even to buy, cook and serve a meal at the Simpson shelter.
Another way to help at this time of year is at the annual Homeless Memorial Service, held on December 16 2010. Volunteers are needed to help set up the event, or simply be there to remember the large numbers of homeless people, and also homelessness advocates, who died during the year.
