By Vicki Little
While it is the season to be merry and bright for many people, unfortunately, there are plenty of others who could use extra cheer during the holidays. No matter what you can offer – your time, your talent or your treasure – there is always something you can do to brighten the holidays for others. Volunteering is an amazing way to teach children to help those who are less fortunate, and it is a great bonding experience for the family as well. Take a look at our list of various opportunities in Denver to see if one may be just what you are looking for.
AMP THE CAUSE-HOLIDAYS FOR KIDS
Amp the Cause throws multiple Holidays For Kids parties each December to bring joy to more than 1,800 children from Title 1 schools. These students enjoy an “amped up” holiday party with face painters, balloon artists, crafts, food, and even a special visit from Santa – who doesn’t arrive empty handed! Volunteer to help before or during a party – or donate to the cause!
DENVER CATHOLIC WORKERS SOUP KITCHEN
This soup kitchen is busy year-round serving healthy and warm meals to those in need. During the holiday season, the number of meals served increases significantly, and this is a wonderful way for your family to spend time volunteering. To set up a time to volunteer, e-mail: suelane1@comcast.net
The Denver Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen is run completely by volunteers and sustained by the generosity of local organizations and the public. They operate on a budget of less than $50,000 per year. Donations are always appreciated. Please donate through their site or send a check to:
Denver Catholic Worker Soup Kitchen, Inc.
c/o Mary Romine
P.O. Box 27255
Denver, Colorado 80227
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF COLORADO-BRIGHT HOLIDAYS
Jewish Family Services gives assistance to seniors, provides mental-health counseling, offers training and job placement to those struggling to find employment, and provides food and financial aid to people in crises, regardless of age, race, religion or income. This holiday season, they are looking for people to provide Christmas or Hanukkah gifts!
There are other ongoing volunteer opportunities, such as senior support, refugee assistance, support for those with disabilities, and food-pantry assistance.
Contact Nancy Benyamin at 720-248-4642 for further information and to sign up to volunteer.
SOLDIERS’ ANGELS-MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Adopt-A-Family: Soldiers’ Angels aim is to help military and veteran families who are financially strained to enjoy a great holiday season by gifting them with presents and a grocery gift card for their holiday dinners. You can adopt a family on your own or with a group, or you can donate directly to their GoFundMe page.
Warm Feet for Warriors: Soldiers’ Angels collect socks to donate to veterans and service members. You can start your own sock drive or simply donate directly. They collect socks all year round for care packages and veteran’s hospitals, but the specific event happens from February to April.
Valentine’s For Veterans: Spread the love this Valentine’s Day by sending cards to deployed troops overseas and VA hospitals. Mail your cards and $1 per card (to help cover the cost of packing and mailing boxes) to:
Soldiers’ Angels 2700 NE Loop 410, Suite 310 San Antonio, Texas 78217There are multiple other opportunities to volunteer with Soldiers’ Angels, such as visiting military patients in the hospital and helping with veteran luncheons. Check here for more opportunities.
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA-MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization that is focused on helping at-risk youth, low-income families, those who are homeless, and women and children who are escaping domestic violence. There are multiple year-round volunteer opportunities, and plenty of special holiday events at which to volunteer as well.
Christmas Turkey Dinner distribution: Distribute baskets containing a full turkey dinner with sides to families in need in the community.
December 17-18, 2018
Contact Bradley Gulley, Director of Volunteer Services, to find out other ways to help or fill in, if needed: bgulley@voacolorado.org
Adopt-A-Family: You can give a family in need a Christmas they otherwise wouldn’t get to enjoy! There are plenty of families to choose from, and if you don’t find one who fits your needs, there are also options to sign up for specific items to donate. Sign up here.
Snow Buddies: Help to keep local elderly safe by shoveling their walkways and sidewalks as needed this winter.
ADDITIONAL ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES:
Reach out to your local church. Many churches offer “Christmas Stores” to help local families in need purchase gifts at significantly discounted rates. Some churches also hold food banks for local families who need extra help with groceries on a monthly basis. Both of these services require multiple volunteers to succeed.
A Precious Child has multiple volunteer opportunities, ranging from processing incoming donations and working for the store, where families shop free of charge, to helping at events, as well as clerical opportunities.
The American Cancer Society needs volunteers to drive cancer patients to their treatments, help at events, help raise funds, and do clerical work. Survivors are needed to share stories of comfort and success and mentor those who are just beginning their journey.
Bessie’s Hope is always looking for volunteers to brighten the days of elders in the community who have little or no visitation from family or friends.
Clothes to Kids of Denver has multiple volunteer needs in its primarily volunteer-run boutique.
Sacred Heart House of Denver needs volunteers to support residents, offer childcare, fix meals for residents, and assist on special projects.
Shiloh House is looking for volunteers to mentor youth and teach life skills to young adults who have been affected by abuse or trauma, volunteer at holiday and celebration events, help young adults learn to live on their own, and more.
Spark the Change has a calendar full of volunteer opportunities in which to participate, ranging from helping at special events to reading to small children, to stocking food pantries.
Vicki Little is a preschool teacher with two children. A Colorado native, she spends her time writing, sitting in the bleachers for her daughter’s gymnastics, and engaging in spirited debates with her son. In her free time…well, she is still waiting for some of that.
Want more great content from The Mother List? Sign up here!
