10+ Places to Volunteer for the Holidays

The holidays are in full swing, and while we just gorged ourselves on turkey and then shopped till we dropped – let’s all take a minute to remember that this is also the season of giving and hope. In December, take a moment to thank your favorite people and animals for being there for you – and then open your hearts and give a little something back to the community as well. There are TONS of places for you to give back, and this is just a SMALL sampling of some places that you check out if you’re not sure where to start.

The Family Place: Adopt-A-Family

Help families that range in size from single clients to parents with up to six children. Submit your request and select your family/families online by checking out the website.You will shop for each member of the family, as well as provide boxes, wrapping paper, tape and bows to give to the client to wrap the gifts for their children. Bring the gifts, labeled with the names of the recipients, to our Holiday Donation Center in a large plastic garbage bag. Tie the bag and tape your Family Code to the outside of the each bag you have.

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Children’s Hospital Annual Toy/Gift Drive

Children’s Health has a tradition of giving each hospitalized child a gift on December 25. Gifts come from generous donations from the public and are wrapped by hospital staff. Any gifts that are not distributed are given to children throughout the remainder of the year on birthdays and other milestones. Donations also stock the shelves of playrooms for hospitalized children.

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The Stewpot

This is a safe haven for homeless and at-risk individuals of Dallas. They are the sole meal provider at the Bridge Homeless Recovery Center searving 1000-2000 meals per day. Sign up to help gather supplies or serve meals

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Wilkinson Center Food Pantry and Toy Drive

Wilkinson Center in Dallas operates a food pantry accepts food donations year-round, but during the holiday months they are especially in need of canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned tuna and chicken, soups, stews, and spaghetti sauce. How to volunteer: You can drop off your items at the food pantry by Dec. 17. You can also volunteer to stock shelves of the pantry. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. are the most urgent volunteer needs.

The Center also provides toys to hundreds of children. Clients will shop for toys while children make crafts and volunteers wrap gifts. Please donate new, unwrapped toys to Wilkinson Center by December 12, 2016.

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The North Texas Food Bank

The North Texas Food Bank a top-ranked nonprofit relief organization, providing access to more than 170,000 meals each day for hungry children, seniors and families through a network of more than 1,000 programs and 200 Partner Agencies in our 13-county service area. If you’re looking for an opportunity to donate directly, sort items, or to support a family, check out their volunteer page.

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Safe Haven – Santa’s Sack

The mission of SafeHaven is to end domestic violence through safety, support, prevention and social change. Every year SafeHaven opens two “Santa’s Sack” storefront sites for ten days in December to collect donations of new toys, clothing and gifts. We then use the donated items to create the “SafeHaven Mall,” allowing our moms and children to “shop” for special gifts they can wrap and exchange with each other. To make this magic happen, we need lots of help! From donating, collecting and sorting gifts to volunteering at the stores, they need it all!

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Safe Haven – Adopt a Family

Shop for and provide holiday gifts for one of our transitional living families who are working to become financially stable and independent. To “Adopt a Family” and receive a profile which includes sizes and specific gift wishes

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Safe Haven – Ana’s Basket

Many clients have to start their lives all over when they leave the shelter. That means having to buy all of the basic necessities of life, which can be very costly. Ana’s Baskets, filled with cleaning supplies, are provided to clients so they can wash their clothes and clean their home. When they exit the shelter and move into their new residence, they receive a basket. You can help us by providing victims with their own basket of cleaning supplies and laundry detergent.

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Toys for Tots Warehouse Toy Sorting

Help sort the toys that come into the facility. Sign up for a time and day with your family and friends – the more the merrier! The minimum age for warehouse volunteers is 10 yrs.

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The Trains at NorthPark Supporting Ronald McDonald House

Ticket sales benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, a home away from home for families with sick or injured children receiving treatment at nearby facilities. This train exhibit is a popular family-friendly attraction. Trains chug on 1,600 feet of track and through 4,000 square feet of themed environments, holiday scenes, and mini replicas of local and national cityscapes. What they need: The exhibit relies on volunteers to collect tickets, welcome visitors, and monitor the exhibit between the viewing dates of Nov. 21 and Jan. 3. The trains receive about 60,000 visitors a year.

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Visiting Nurse Association of Texas

Pet Food Delivery

Dec 8 4pm

Join The VNA on Thursday to help organize and prepare pet food routes that will be delivered on Saturday 12/10. This program delivers supplemental pet food to our Meals on Wheels clients who are homebound. This program keeps people from having to choose between eating their hot, nutritious delivered meal and feeding their pet. Location: 1440 W. Mockingbird Lane Dallas, TX 75247.

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Salvation Army Angel Tree

The Angel Tees are back! Sponsor an Angel and help provide an awesome Christmas for those that need a special Angel this year. Just stop by the Salvation Army Angel Tree at NorthPark Center between now and Dec. 8. The tree is on level one, next to Macy’s. After you choose an angel, be sure to bring their gift back to NorthPark by Dec. 9. When you choose an angel off of our Salvation Army tree, you’ll be entered into a raffle. In December, they will randomly select five winners to receive a complimentary photo shoot with Marc Robins Photography!

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The Fort Worth Hope Center

Did you know that 1 out of every 4 children is suffering from hunger and that there are over 640,000 people in the Metroplex that are suffering from severe poverty? Tuesdays and Fridays are Food Distribution Days at The Fort Worth HOPE Center. Registration is from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. If you want to donate food, those can be dropped off at 3625 E Loop 820 S, Fort Worth, TX 76119 – check the site for the list of what they need.

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Operation Holiday Joy for Enlisted Soldiers and their Families

Make the holidays a little easier for just one more military family. Your gift will ensure there is a toy under the tree or a food basket on the table this Christmas. Since 2004, Operation Holiday Joy supporters have donated more than $1.5 million for military and their families. Help those who need a little extra this season – donations are needed for toys and meals to junior enlisted families in need.

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Dallas Metro

Every Fall, the Metro Kidz semester ends with each child receiving a Christmas stocking. For some of the kids we encounter, the stocking is the only gift they will receive. Many of our families use the stockings to decorate their homes, and will keep the empty stockings for many years. Each handmade stocking is filled with a variety of toys, candy, basic hygiene products, socks, and gloves. Download the Christmas Stocking & Shoebox Pattern here Each stocking is unique, and carefully made by women’s groups and individuals. The Christmas Metro Kidz programs are the largest attended each year, and are the most exciting.

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Mission Arlington Christmas Store Toy Drive

Throughout the season, we need food of any kind, coats, blankets, heaters, underwear, and toys to help make the holidays warmer, happier and better for the families of our community. ou are needed at the Mission Arlington® Christmas Store, where thousands of parents are able to find Christmas gifts for their children – free of charge. Hundreds of Christmas trees and bikes are also delivered to help families celebrate this cherished holiday. While visiting our store, each person hears the wonder of the Christmas story, and is given an invitation to respond.

Volunteers are needed: to help people shop, wrap gifts, play with children, stock toys, deliver Christmas trees, repair and deliver bicycles. Christmas gifts are needed: Toys are needed for every age group – from babies and toddlers up through teenagers. Also needed and welcome are personal and clothing items. We also need various miscellaneous items, such as wrapping paper, tape, ornaments, and batteries. If possible, please bring unwrapped gifts to Mission Arlington or call for a pick up at 817-277-6620. We will be collecting through Christmas Eve. For suggestion , please click here: Holiday Toy List.

Adopt a Family or a Child :

If you are interested in providing a family or child with a wonderful Christmas, please contact the Mission Arlington® office at (817) 277-6620.

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