Volunteer at Christmas
‘Tis the season to give back, and for many that means volunteering. But if you are a last-minute volunteer, you might find out that lots of other people had this idea first!
Christmas hampers are collected and delivered, toy banks are getting ready to surprise children living in poverty, kitchens in churches and community centres are gearing up to feed the hungry.
If you want to be a part of all this, you’ll have to hurry up! Christmas is the busiest time of year for charities, and most start recruiting volunteers as early as September. Community Volunteer Connections called around to local non-profits and churches and found out volunteers have already gotten their places to serve Christmas dinners to seniors and the homeless, and the toy banks and food banks have lots of volunteers sorting and organizing like good little elves.
But you don’t have to be left out in the cold! Here are a few great ways you can get involved this holiday season:
West Coast Express Santa’s Toy Train
On Saturday December 11 and 18, the Boy Scouts will be on hand to collect toy donations on behalf of SHARE Family & Community Services. Drivers are needed to get those toys from the Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody West Coast Express stations to the Toy Bank! Contact Heather Stacey for more information – 604.529.5107.
Wrapping Gifts for Charity
Do you like wrapping gifts just as much as you like unwrapping them? Charities are running gift wrapping services at a mall near you, and need volunteers to get the job done.
At Coquitlam Centre, volunteers are wrapping for SHARE Family & Community Services. Call 604-209-3420 to sign up for a shift or two!
At Royal City Centre, wrapping is on behalf of the New Westminster Rangers! Drop by to get your gifts wrapped!
At Brentwood Mall, volunteers are wrapping for our sister –in-arms, Volunteer Burnaby! Find out more here.
Join the CVC Flying Squad
The Flying Squad is a group of over 200 volunteers who come when the community calls. As Community Volunteer Connections hears about cool events or short-term volunteer opportunities, we send out an e-blast to the Squad volunteers. If it fits your schedule, you sign up! We have a few Christmas opportunities coming up, and we’ll have more in the New Year. Become a member of the Flying Squad today!
Run Your Own Toy or Food Drive
The Christmas Bureaus can’t work without donations! Food, toys and cold hard cash can make a big difference to a family in need. If you are having a Christmas party, why not have guests bring a gift for that special stranger? Remember, teenagers celebrate Christmas too, but Toy Banks often get way too many stuffed toys and not enough gifts for older kids. Need some youth gift suggestions? Click here!
SHARE’s Christmas Bureau is collecting donations. Find out where you can drop yours off:
Remember, volunteering is meaningful any time of year. If you want to make volunteering a part of your New Year, mark January 29 on your calendar and come out to the New Westminster Festival of Volunteers at the Royal City Centre.
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Update! St. Barnabas Church in New Westminster is still accepting volunteers for their Christmas Dinner on December 25. They still need a few more servers and lots more for the clean-up crew. Please call Roxie at 604-777-2064.
Alina and I would like to serve Christmas Dinner on Dec 25th
Please tell me what information you need and what I need to know. Thank you
HI there,
our blog has moved to
http://www.volunteerconnections.net/blog.
You can find X’Mas dinner volunteer opportunities there.
Thanks
Alina and I would like to volunteer for Christmas day dinner
Please call so we can discuss. Thank you Tina
would like to help serve christmas dinner to homeless in tri-city area