The holiday season is the symbol of generosity and sharing making it the perfect time of year to volunteer! You also have tons of free time, and instead of having family overload, take some time to help out, meet new friends and have a little fun!
Here are some holiday volunteer opportunities…
Traditional
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The Christmas Kettle Campaign, sponsored by Ernst & Young and in conjunction with the Salvation Army, is the perfect holiday volunteer opportunity. Each year the Campaign collects holiday donations for less fortune families for the coming year. This specific campaign is also the largest of it’s sort every year.
If you aren’t able to volunteer this year feel free to make a donation to the Campaign via their website. The Salvation Army is also always looking for volunteers throughout the year.
Distribute Food Baskets
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The majority of volunteer opportunities over the holidays include distributing food baskets or lunches. Most of the time you can find ads on the websites of the non-for-profit organizations. There are also many other community organizations in province of Quebec where you can donate food, clothes and other non-perishable items.
Santropol Roulant or ‘Meals on Wheels’ also needs volunteers year round, but you can just help out during the holiday season, as it’s the busiest time of year. This specific community organization helps out seniors, people with disabilities, the chronically ill or people who are temporarily or permanently unable to leave their homes. Delivering a meal is easy, and takes little to no time. Plus, you’ll be helping keep someone’s belly warm!
Offer a Safe Drive Home
Since 1984 Operation Red Nose has been asking volunteers to help out and pick up people from their holiday events, and give them a safe ride home. All the donations to Operation Red Nose go towards local youth organizations.
Give Blood
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You can give blood anytime of the year to the Red Cross. But if you’re looking for an easy and extremely helpful way to volunteer over the holidays, giving blood is your best option. Red Cross is always in need of donors and the blood you donate may help save a life.
Charitable and not-for-profit organizations are always looking for nice, friendly and open-minded people to help them out throughout the holiday season and the year. Give it try, meet some new friends and give the gift of kindness!
