You can spread joy, give back, and make a difference this holiday season with these great Christmas volunteer opportunities for families.
My kids are required to do volunteer projects for confirmation and service projects at school. It’s easy to turn these opportunities into quality family time at all ages and the holidays are a great place to start.
Volunteer Opportunities for Families
Volunteering as a family during the holidays is a wonderful way to spread joy, give back to the community, and teach children the value of kindness and compassion. Here are some volunteer ideas for families to do around the holidays.
Serve Meals at a Soup Kitchen or Homeless Shelter
Spend a few hours serving meals to those in need at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Many organizations welcome volunteers, especially during the holiday season.
Donate Toys to a Toy Drive
Organize a toy drive in your community or donate new, unwrapped toys to organizations that distribute gifts to children in need during the holidays, such as Toys for Tots or local charities.
My daughter’s soccer team donated toys this past season as part of their Christmas gift exchange. It was so fun to look in the box and see what everyone brought.
Visit and Volunteer at a Nursing Home
Spend time with elderly residents at a nursing home or assisted living facility. You can play games, read stories, sing carols, or simply spend time chatting with them to brighten their day.
Collect and Deliver Food Baskets
Coordinate a food drive to collect non-perishable food items, then assemble and deliver food baskets to families in need or donate them to a local food pantry or food bank.
Make Care Packages for the Homeless
Create care packages containing essential items such as toiletries, socks, gloves, snacks, and water bottles, then distribute them to individuals experiencing homelessness in your community.
Volunteer at a Animal Shelter
Help care for animals in need by volunteering at a local animal shelter or rescue organization. Tasks may include cleaning cages, walking dogs, or socializing with cats and other pets. This can be done all year long too!
Participate in a Charity Run or Walk
Sign up as a family to participate in a charity run, walk, or fundraising event benefiting a cause you care about. It’s a fun way to get active while supporting a good cause.
My daughter loves running in these races and takes it very seriously. Make sure to talk to your kids about where the registration money is going and how it helps.
Create Handmade Cards for Hospital Patients
Get creative and make handmade cards with uplifting messages and artwork to brighten the spirits of patients in hospitals or nursing homes during the holidays.
Volunteer at a Holiday Event or Festival
Offer your time to help set up, decorate, or staff a holiday event or festival in your community. Many events rely on volunteers to make them successful.
Our downtown area has weekend festivities leading up to Christmas. It included horse drawn carriage rides, hot chocolate stations and entertainment. There are signups to help out and it’s a fun event and gets you in the Christmas spirit.
Clean Up a Local Park or Beach
Spend a day as a family cleaning up litter and debris at a local park, beach, or nature reserve to help keep the environment clean and beautiful for everyone to enjoy.
Wrap Gifts for Charity
Volunteer to wrap gifts at a local mall or shopping center in exchange for donations to a charity or nonprofit organization. Contact your local charities to get more info on this. You can put on some Christmas music and spend the day snacking and hanging out with your friends while you wrap.
Organize a Clothing Drive
Collect gently used clothing and winter coats from friends, family, and neighbors, then donate them to a local homeless shelter or organization that supports individuals in need.
Write Letters to Military Service Members
Send letters of appreciation and encouragement to deployed military service members through organizations like Operation Gratitude or Soldiers’ Angels.
This is easy and can be done as a group or individually for a few minutes every week.
Host a Fundraiser
Organize a bake sale, yard sale, or other fundraising event with proceeds going to a charity or cause that your family cares about.
Remember to check with organizations in your area for specific volunteer opportunities for families and age requirements, and always prioritize safety and follow any guidelines or instructions provided by the organization. Volunteering as a family can be a meaningful and rewarding experience that creates lasting memories and strengthens bonds while making a difference in the lives of others.