Volunteering During The Holidays
Discover new and creative ways to give back to your community during this COVID-19 holiday season
As we all know, 2020 has been a year of unprecedented circumstances and surprises. People, families and organizations have all been hit hard by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This holiday season, it is now more important than ever to volunteer for your local nonprofits.
With coming up with alternative, virtual or distanced holiday plans and thinking of gift ideas for your friends and family, it’s easy to get caught up in the midst of the stressful holiday season. This year, seize the opportunity to give back to people in need. Doing good feels good. Yes, receiving gifts is great, but the season is all about spreading joy. It can be easy to become a cotton-headed ninny-muggins like Buddy the Elf, instead give back to those who need it the most.
In this list, you will find several different ways to give back to your community this holiday season. From (socially distanced) in person events, to virtual events, there will be ample opportunities for you to choose from.
Volunteer With Your Local Food Bank
While most of us will be enjoying a hearty dinner with friends and family, others are not as fortunate to have such a luxury. Food banks and meal kitchens are all in need of some help this holiday season. Think of how you feel on the holidays when you are surrounded by your family in a warm home with food on the table and presents in the living room. Act selflessly and spread some holiday cheer. Everyone deserves to have the feeling of joy during the holiday season. A few local organizations that need your help include Central Texas Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Keep Austin Fed, and Caritas. If you’re looking for a partner to join you, grab a friend, your significant other, or meet someone new and book it through Swoovy.
Volunteer With Loved Ones!
Find strength in (socially distanced) numbers. Bringing a group of friends or family along with you to a volunteering event is a great way to get involved. Not only do you get to spend quality time with your loved ones, but you get to leave the event knowing that you just changed the life of one or many people.
Volunteering can also be a great way to build better relationships. Our lives are always so busy with work, friends, children, sports, or whatever it may be. By taking time to volunteer, you can create valuable and long-lasting memories with your loved ones.
Build Some Good Karma
We have all heard, “What goes around comes around.” There is no better time to build good karma than during the holidays. Whether it be making a simple care kit or spending the entire day at the soup kitchen, doing a good deed will be sure to grab that good karma. Nonprofits rely on donations and volunteers to keep their organizations afloat. Some people choose to give back through donations, but believe it or not, your volunteer hours can add up to be worth more than the average donation! According to The Independent Sector, one hour of volunteering is worth $27.20! Now, imagine a warehouse full of volunteers giving just two hours of their time. That can add up to thousands of dollars of value!
Sort and Donate Christmas Gifts
The holidays are also popular for gift drives and distribution. You can support Toys For Tots, or be a part of distributing gifts to over 7,000 kids signed up in need through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. With so many toys coming into their facilities, these organizations need help sorting and distributing their gifts. Be a part of the reason that a child receives gifts on the holidays. As we said before, the pandemic has brought upon large financial struggles for many families across the United States. This year may be the most important year to date to either donate new and unwrapped toys to your local Toy Drive or give your time in order to make sure that struggling families can still have a fun and enjoyable holiday.
Help Out From A Distance
Not comfortable volunteering in person? Almost all nonprofits have adapted to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by adding virtual volunteer opportunities. Nonprofits still need the help, that has not gone away, and they have had to completely shift their operations during these circumstances to continue their work in the community. Organizations have realized that volunteering virtually or from home can still be impactful. You can create snack packs or care kits for for people experiencing homelessness, or be an ear for someone to talk to through Senior Access… the possibilities are truly endless. What’s beautiful now is that you can do these from ANYWHERE—we all know now a Zoom call can connect you across the country in just seconds! We even added video chat in Swoovy so you can connect through shared interests and giving back, while getting to know someone in a real and meaningful way.
If you would like to learn more about virtual volunteering, you can read a great article about it HERE.
A Few WAYS to SUPPORT NONPROFITS DURING THE holiday
For a list of daily opportunities from hundreds of nonprofits, virtually and safely in-person, download Swoovy. You can create an individual profile for free to save your interests and flag events, or add on Swoovy Connections to create a joint account as a couple, or meet new people if you are single and looking to connect through volunteerism.
Sort Gifts At The Angel Tree Warehouse
The Salvation Army always has plenty of opportunities for volunteers. This year, they are looking for hundreds of volunteers to help with their annual gift donation at The Angel Tree Warehouse in Austin, Texas. The Salvation Army is looking for Gift Sorters, Distribution Preparers and Telephone Answerers. If you decide to attend, please wear a mask and social distancing will be practiced in the large warehouse
2. Sign Up To Volunteer From Home Or For A Food Truck Ministry
Mobile Loaves & Fishes is slowly and safely transitioning the welcome of volunteers back to the Community First! Village and wants to provide opportunities for individuals, families and friends to engage with them at home! Volunteers are the backbone of Mobile Loaves & Fishes’ food truck ministry. Not only do they prepare and deliver meals to men and women who are living on the streets, they also provide our homeless friends with the dignity that comes with handshake, a hug or a friendly smile.
3. Caritas - Make Snack Care Kits For The Homeless
Caritas is hosting a snack kit drop off event! Make it a date to make some snack care kits for the homeless! This activity will stimulate conversation and help some of the most vulnerable people in the community during this time. The bags can be dropped off at Caritas on 611 Neches St. Call ahead instructions will be included when you rsvp.
4. Make-A-Wish - Sign Up For Over The Edge
Over The Edge will give the first 200 individuals who raise a minimum of $1,500, the opportunity to rappel down one of the tallest buildings in Austin. Sign up as an individual or form a team with your co-workers or friends.
Sponsorship opportunities are available and listed on the website.
Two-hundred rappellers are expected to take part in this year's event with a goal of raising $600,000, which will grant the wishes of 120 local children with critical illnesses. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Kimberly Romero by email at kromero@cstx.wish.org.
In June of 2019, thanks to the tremendous support from all 200 Edgers, sponsors and in-kind supporters and volunteers, over $500,000 was raised to grant the wishes of 100 local children with critical illnesses in central & south Texas.