The Holidays are near. That means we need more love and people to go around. Take a day or two this season and volunteer or donate locally. No matter how small the act or donation you're helping a family. I've compiled a list of great local places to volunteer this year to help out. When you're going through your house cleaning for your guest, put a couple of cans and a blanket aside and donate them to a thrift shop or food bank. Spread the love always and especially around the Holidays.
Toys For Tots
The Toys for Tots Jeep Parade will be going through the Kings Charter neighborhood on Dec. 10th. Meet the parade at your street corner to donate a new, unwrapped toy. Or drop off your toy donation on Dec. 10.
See the other listing for additional public drop off locations: https://www.justserve.org/projects/f8c17dce-8109-4b67-bd3c-3ced94ec3840
When: Dec 10th
Where: Detail Garage- 9456 Charter Gate Dr., Ashland VA
Clothing Closet- Baltimore Baptist Church
They are currently looking for volunteers to help sort donated clothes. You can also donate new or gently used clothes. Drop off items at the clothing closet located below. (If the clothing closet is closed, items can be left in plastic bags and placed inside the grey box outside.) They also accept small household items that can be sold in their church yard sales.
When: Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am -12am.
Where: 1300 New York Avenue, Glen Allen 23060
Contact: To volunteer, call 804-901-4193 or email kenwright88@gmail.com.
From The Heart Stitchers
Donate materials! Since From the Heart is strictly non-profit, they have no income to buy materials and must rely on the generosity of others for yarn, crochet hooks and knitting needles. Work on your own amazing projects and drop them off at the designated location. They'll take anything from blankets to hats to toys. These projects are given to those in need who could enjoy the comfort of having our loving stitches wrapped around them. The items are given to people located at (but not limited to) hospice, dialysis and infusion centers or assisted living.
Where: 114 Westbriar Drive, Richmond, VA 23238
Contact: 804-305-4971 or loisfth@me.com
YMCA Turkey Trot
Looking for volunteers to help make this Turkey Trot a success.
Roles include: Packet Pick-up Set Up, Packet Pick-up, Finish Line Crew, Refreshments, Course Marshal, and more!
When: 24 Nov 2022, 6:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Where: 2300 Washington Avenue, Fredericksburg
Adopt A Home: Holiday Edition - Reservoir Edition
This is where YOU come in. Volunteers are needed to bring the holiday cheer help to residents and staff by providing decorations and hanging them up around the homes. Decorations can be homemade or purchased, but regardless of what you choose to do, you are making a world of difference for residents and staff.
When:3 Dec 2022, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: 4213 Reservoir Lane, Richmond
Loisann’s Hope House
Volunteer: You can volunteer at Loisann's Hope House in the office, daycare, maintenance, or help with childcare in the evenings while our mothers have classes.
Donations: Loisann's Hope House has been blessed with the support from our community. Businesses, churches, and individuals have organized different types of drives to collect goods for our residents. They have consisted of food, clothing, cleaning supplies, paper products, summer camp items, and back-to-school items for the children. If this is something you or your organization is interested in doing, please call first to see what our current needs are. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
Where: 902 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg
Website: https://loisannshopehouse.org/volunteering/
The Table at St. George
The Table (market-style food pantry) welcomes volunteers to help with set up, clean up; and food distribution.
When: Tuesday mornings (9.30-11.30am) and evenings (5-7pm)
Where: 905 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg
Contact: 540-373-4133 or outreach@stgeorgesepiscopal.net
Website: https://www.stgeorgesepiscopal.net/outreach-and-mission/the-table-at-st-georges/
Organize A Cleanup
The Rappahannock Regional Solid Waste Management Board, also known as the R-board, wants to support you and your group as you organize a clean-up project. The R-Board provides all the supplies you need to spend a Saturday morning improving your neighborhood. Call below to arrange for trash bags, safety vests, gloves, litter pickers, and signs for your cleanup. We’ll even pick up the trash bags after you finish and let you know the weight of the collected trash.
Contact: 540-658-5273
Other places to look for volunteer or donation centers are JustServe.com or VolunteerMatch.com. A lot of the opportunities I found have multiple locations so if you're interested but the drive is far, there still might be a closer one to you! Help out families in these amazing holiday times. Hope to see you guys giving back!
