Looking to volunteer for the holidays? One of the best gifts you can give this Christmas is your time and help. 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, be a bell-ringer, sing carols, and many other tasks. 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 seniors who can't get to either of the two Little Brother's centers.Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis Holiday Volunteers
Catholic Charities provides a range of social services to Twin Cities residents. Volunteer distributing gifts to children and adults, shop for Christmas gifts and holiday meals, or one of the many other volunteer opportunities at Catholic Charities.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 signing up and volunteering some time in the new year?Meals on Wheels Holiday Volunteers
Delivering meals to homebound disabled and elderly people in the Twin Cities is the classic Meals on Wheels volunteer position, but did you know that as well as drivers, Meals on Wheels also needs people to help with many other tasks if you can't, or prefer not 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, volunteers are needed to help make greetings cards, assist with holiday parties, bring a gentle pet to visit with Kaposia's clients, and many more other activities.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 volunteers can receive VocalEssence show tickets, or VocalEssence merchandise.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, baby supply baskets, buy gifts or winter clothes. Your group can also buys, 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 20 2012. Volunteers are needed to help set up the event, or simply be there and join in the march to remember the large numbers of homeless people, and also homelessness advocates, who died during the year.
