Share a Little Joy This Season - Volunteer for the Holidays

The holidays are truly a time of love and laughter for most of us, a time to enjoy generous meals and exchange special gifts with people we care about. But for some, the holidays are a challenging time because they are people in your community who are in need. Why not spread some holiday cheer this holiday season, and give something back to your community? 

Volunteering can be a wonderful thing to do, whether as an individual or as an entire family project. There are lots of projects that teens can do (most volunteer assignments require that youths be at least sixteen years old, though some will take younger youths). Many community programs are looking for an extra hand just for the holidays, so your short-term commitment will be very welcome during this time of year. Who knows? You could be starting a wonderful family tradition of volunteering for this charity every year, or simply volunteering for any charity during the holidays. Here are some ideas for holiday volunteer projects to get you started. Another great way to find volunteer projects is to contact your local United Way office, or to visit Volunteer Match www.volunteermatch.org or Idealist www.idealist.org. 

Salvation Army Bellringer

We all see them during the holiday time with those black kettles, and we certainly hear those distinctive bells ringing. Why not volunteer to be a Salvation Army Bellringer? This can be something that you do as an individual or as a family. For more information contact the Salvation Army http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf. 

Toys for Tots Volunteer