Giving Back for the Holidays pt 2

A few weeks ago we discussed ways you can give back during the holiday season. Giving back doesn't require any particular creed or faith, it is really just about doing something for someone else. Really we should be doing for others throughout the year, but it is especially important during this time of year when those less fortunate are most vulnerable. Well after bringing this topic up a few weeks I decided to do a little research on more opportunities throughout the DC area to get involved with during the holidays.

Now thanks to a wonderful volunteer coordinator at Miriam's Kitchen I was given a list of great volunteer opportunities. But if it wasn't for this particular volunteer my search would have been a lot more stressful. Who knew it would it be so difficult to find a place to volunteer? Most organizations I found were not looking for volunteers just for the season and those that did have seasonal opportunities had very strict shifts and limits to the amount of people who could sign up. These organizations also required lots of paperwork for someone who only wanted to help out for the season. Regardless, I wanted to share with you all the list I received of great places to give back this season. Check them out and do what you can to help someone else.

Anyone who finds other great organizations to volunteer with please feel free to share!

Happy Holidays!!

--Krystal

    

1. Food & Friends: Caring for those living with life-challenging illnesses by preparing and delivering specialized meals and groceries in conjunction with nutrition counseling.        

2. Grate Patrol:  For those who can't get in... Grate Patrol goes out!

Every Saturday and Sunday, 52 weekends a year, two cars leave the parking lot of St. Paul's Episcopal Church (2430 K St. NW) and go out with 378 bags of healthy breakfasts, to be delivered to people living on DC's streets. Grate Patrol strives to hit the "nooks and crannies" of the city, finding and serving the homeless wherever they can be found. Meet at 5:45 a.m. to start our deliveries before people leave their sleeping areas!  For inquiries about Grate Patrol delivery volunteering, please contact Glenn Marsh at 703-622-6484or marsh_glenn@emc.com

3.       A Wider Circle: Volunteers are needed on Saturdays from 10am-4pm and Sundays from 12-4pm. at in Bethesda.  Volunteers will help clients pick out furniture, sorting and organizing donations, organizing the warehouse, and/or picking up donations from around the region. There is no age requirement to volunteer.  Please contact Katie Reidy, Volunteer & Intern Coordinator at 301.608.3504

4.       Bread for the City: www.breadforthecity.org

5.       Calvary Women’s Services: Cook meals for 25 women, teach LifeSkills Classes, do overnight supervisingwww.calvaryservices.org

6.       Thrive DC provides meals and services to homeless men and women. For volunteering opportunities, please contact volunteer@thrivedc.org

7.       SOME (So Others Might Eat) has many diverse volunteering opportunities. Check their website for more information: www.some.org

8.       N Street Village has many diverse volunteering opportunities. Check their website for more information: www.nstreetvillage.org

9.   Martha’s Table offers multiple volunteering opportunities such as: wagon driver, food preparation, and tutor. Check their website for more information:www.marthastable.org

10.   Interested in helping children and families? Check out the Mary’s Center for volunteering opportunities: www.maryscenter.org

11.   DC Central Kitchen has various volunteering opportunities. Check their website for more information: www.dccentralkitchen.org

12.   Go apple picking with friends or family on the weekends athttp://striblingorchard.com/default.aspx You can then donate some of the apples to Miriam’s Kitchen. We will make delicious desserts for our guests!