Volunteer with Family This Thanksgiving

The autumn chill is in the air. You know what that means! The holidays are officially here! And volunteers are needed now more than ever during to help all members of our community feel connected and have a happy and healthy holiday season. Thanksgiving falls on November 22 this year, but there are ways to volunteer all month long (as most soup kitchens and other typical opportunities fill up fast)!

As a family you can also consider creating a new holiday tradition by choosing a holiday opportunity that you can do together. Volunteering together around the holidays is the perfect way to pass on the spirit of giving to young ones and create meaningful memories together!

From DIY projects, donation drives, to hands-on volunteer opportunities available from November to December there's many ways you and your family can volunteer together. Visit volunteernewyork.org/holiday for the full list.

When you think of parades, do memories of Thanksgiving come rusing back? Then maybe you would like to be a part of New Rochelle's Thanksgiving Parade on November 17! Volunteers would line up at the Huguenot Children's Library where they will help hold up balloons and fly banners that would help ring in the holiday.
The New Rochelle Thanksgiving Parade (ages 16+ with an adult)
Many Thanksgiving dinners call for a satisfying roast which feeds a crowd. Well, now you can be a help with distributing some yummy entrees to people who would miss out on such a communal feast. The Aisling Irish Community Center is seeking donations in the form of whole turkeys, turkey breasts and hams to the homeless with over 300 meals being dished out on Thanksgiving Day to benefit individuals in Yonkers.
Donate Turkeys, Turkey Breasts or Hams (ages 5+ with an adult)

If you prefer a more hands-on approach and would like to serve up the meals yourself, perhaps you would like to be a part of the Thanksgiving Dinner at the YWCA in White Plains. Volunteers would assist in sharing their smile and serving the needy on November 20.

Help Serve Thanksgiving Dinner at the YWCA Residence in White Plains (ages 5+ with an adult)

Protecting your feet in the bitter cold is one of the most common and yet overlooked aspects of winter gear that sometimes we don’t even think twice about those who can’t even afford to get a pair of socks in freezing weather. Socks are the most requested items at shelters, and yet the least donated. Warm socks are needed. Consider creating sock bundles to donate this season as a memorable family activity.

Create Sock Bundles this Holiday Season (ages 3+ with an adult)

Kids can also get in on the fun of giving back by helping peers their age who have serious medical conditions. Make-a-Wish Hudson Valley is offering a Kids for Wish Kids program which connects young volunteers with fundraising and managing projects which help give other kids the hope and desires they crave during a difficult time in their lives. They can also learn about the values of community service and working together with fellow citizens.
Kids for Wish Kids (ages 13+ with an adult)

Church services around Thanksgiving can be a rewarding time for the faithful. Unfortunately, some congregants need some extra help attending services, as they are physically impaired. Wartburg Adult Care Community is looking for volunteers who would help escort wheelchair-bound attendees to the campus’s Lutheran chapel during the morning hours. For those who understand the importance of going to regular mass for some people, this can be a fine way to assist them in their devotion.
Worship on Wheels (ages 14+ with an adult)

Sometimes making a card for somebody is one of the best gifts to brighten a lonely holiday. Caring Cards and Crafts is a great way to both devote some extra time to creating a small yet meaningful trinket of appreciation to nursing home residents who miss their loved ones during a hectic time. You can even include a small piece of poetry in your card, in addition to decorating it with festive trimmings.
Caring Cards and Crafts for Seniors (ages 5+ with an adult)

Attention! Do you like hot cocoa (who doesn’t)? Do you like adorable doggies? Do you like walking for a good cause? Then MAC Angels Foundation is sponsoring a Hot Cocoa Run and Dog Walk for the purpose of enhancing the quality of life for ALS patients and their caregivers, as well as finding a cure for the disease. The Walk takes place on December 1st at Ward Elementary School in New Rochelle.
Hot Cocoa Run and Dog Walk (ages 1+ with an adult)

There’s nothing that describes the spirit of Thanksgiving more than lending a hand and reflecting on all we have to be grateful for. Sign up now to be a volunteer and be the difference in making this a special holiday season for a neighbor in need. For a full list of holiday opportunities available this season, please visit volunteernewyork.org/holiday.