The Season of Giving – Top 10 Holiday Volunteer Opportunities
Lend a hand this holiday season.
As we enter the month of December, activities and events are full speed ahead for the holidays—a time for celebration, family and being thankful for all the things that make our lives special. But above all, the holiday season is a time of giving; a time to lend a hand to help those who are less fortunate and in need.
In addition to the gifts for family and friends, consider giving a gift that will make a significant impact: volunteering. From feeding the hungry to ensuring gifts for children, there are a handful of local organizations and charities that help make the holidays a little brighter for the disadvantaged.
Want to make a difference in somebody’s life this holiday season? Here are the top 10 local volunteer opportunities in the Sarasota area:
1. All Faiths Food Bank – Help fight hunger in our community by helping out at the All Faiths Food Bank, an organization focused on providing food assistance for children and families. Did you know that one volunteer working one hour can sort enough food to create 130 meals? You can make a difference. Visit HERE or call 941.379.6333 for more information.
2. Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County – This organization works to provide tutoring, computer training, sports education, and mentoring to help improve the lives of children. Volunteers help contribute time to directly offer a safe, nurturing experience. Support the Boys & Girls Clubs at the It Takes a Village Sale on Siesta Key on Friday, December 4 from 5:30 – 9:00pm at Southside Village. For more information, visit HERE.
3. The Food Bank of Manatee – As the largest hunger prevention organization in Manatee County, The Food Bank’s Meals on Wheels Plus program helps provide hot, nutritious noontime meals to elderly and disabled residents of Manatee County. Visit HERE for more information.
4. Make-a-Wish Foundation – This organization grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Volunteers connect with wish children to help explore their imaginations for the experience that will delight and inspire them. For more information on how you can help, visit HERE.
5. Toys for Tots – This organization helps embody the true spirit of the holiday season by providing a new toy to a needy child. Michael Saunders & Company is a proud participating sponsor of Toys for Tots; and you may drop off a new unwrapped toy at any one of our 16 sales offices throughout Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. For more information, visit HERE.
6. Big Brothers and Big Sisters – Donating your time can directly impact the life of a child in need. With a waiting list of over 200 children, you can get involved to help make this holiday season special. New unwrapped holiday gifts are also being collected for children (age 6 to teen) at the Siesta Key office of Michael Saunders & Company. For more information, visit HERE.
7. Second Chance, Last Opportunity – This Sarasota-based organization provides their clients with the tools, guidance, and opportunity they need to make a better life for themselves and their families. Your help can directly change the lives of those in our community who need it most. Visit HERE for more information.
8. Resurrection House – A non-profit, faith-based organization, Resurrection House serves as a day resource center to the homeless of Sarasota County. Operating with only a small paid staff, it is the 200+ volunteers that allow Resurrection House to provide its multitude of services to an ever-increasing number of clients. For more information, visit HERE.
9. Habitat for Humanity Sarasota – Help volunteer, donate, sponsor a home, or join the Carpenter’s Club to build affordable homes and mixed-income communities to meet the social needs of our Sarasota’s residents. Or, help staff the organization’s Home Improvement Outlet Store. For more information, visit HERE or call 941.365.0700 between 9 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
10. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren – A non-profit run through a base at USF, this support group consists of grandparents raising children due to deaths of their own children or for many other reasons. The children range from toddlers to teens, and the group is seeking donations of gift cards or gift certificates to help both the grandparents and the grandchildren. For more information, visit HERE.
If you don’t have the time to volunteer but want to help others, you can also donate a financial contribution to charity. Some commendable organizations accepting donations include the American Red Cross, UNICEF, St. Jude Children’s Hospital Research, local homeless shelters, Goodwill, and many other groups.
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