A Holiday Sampler for Volunteers
Note: Volunteer Houston is in the process of gathering current information
on holiday season projects for volunteers. The following are some selected
opportunities ideal for individuals and for groups of volunteers. ("Grayed out" information relates to projects
which have been completed as of our last updates or no longer need volunteers.)
(Last updated: 11/7/12)
HOLIDAY SEASON
Neighborhood Centers
- Choices in Education -Head Start/Early Head Start
6200 Savoy, Suite 1100; Houston, Texas 77036
Contact: Nelsy Martinez, 713-273-3227
nmartinez@neighborhood-centers.org
"Adopt
a Family". Thanksgiving or Christmas.
(Head Start/Early Head Start serves preschoolers from low-income families)
(Click here for additional information.)
HOLIDAY SEASON
Target Hunger
2814 Quitman;
Houston, Texas (77026)
Contact: Mitzi Coleman
(713) 226-4953
mitzi.coleman@targethunger.org
Target
Hunger is a United Way agency focused on alleviating hunger and its root causes
in Houston's inner city neighborhoods.
It needs volunteers to assist with the following projects geared to
distribution of food for Thanksgiving:
November 5th – 9th & November 12th –
15th (9 am -- 4 pm)
Location: Langston Family life Center --2814 Quitman
(77026)
Volunteers
will be packing food bags to hand out for the Thanksgiving holiday. These bags
will be a compliment to the turkeys that will distributed as well.
November
8, 9, & 15th ( 9 am -- 3 pm)
Location: Denver Harbor Multi Service Center -- 6402
Market Street (77020)
Volunteers
will be packing food bags to hand out for the Thanksgiving holiday. These bags
will be a compliment to the turkeys that will distributed as well.
November
16 ( 10 am -- 3 pm)
Location: Denver Harbor Multi Service Center -- 6402
Market Street (77020)
Volunteers
will be needed to hand out the Thanksgiving food bags and turkeys.
HOLIDAY SEASON
Bay Area Turning
Point
210 South Walnut
Street
Webster, Texas 77598
Contact: Sheryl
Dickerson, Volunteer Services Manager,
281.204.8845
sdickerson@bayareaturningpoint.com
Fill-the-Truck
Food Drive -- November 16 & 17 (Friday & Saturday)
The Bay
Area Turning Point, Inc. maintains a shelter for abused women and their
children, and provides a broad array of other services to domestic abuse
victims, both those staying at the shelter and those served on an out-client
basis. The Fill-the-Truck Food Drive will benefit the latter (as well as other at-risk families
served by BATP) and will be based at selected grocery stores in the Bay Area
(Clear Lake, Dickinson, Friendswood, League City, & Friendswood). Volunteer
duties will consist in accepting food donations from store patrons and sorting
the items into simple categories for temporary storage. Individuals, families,
and groups (including youth groups) are cordially invited to help out. The
following shift times are available:
November
16, 2012 (Friday)
10:00am
– 12:30 pm
12:00pm
– 2:30 pm
2:00pm
– 4:30 pm
4:30pm
– 7:00 pm
November
17, 2012 (Saturday)
9:00am
– 11:30 am
11:30am
– 2:00 pm
2:00pm
– 4:00 pm
Click here to view a
flyer listing the participating locations.
HOLIDAY SEASON
Volunteer Houston
3015 Richmond, Suite 100 (77098)
Call: Walter Black
(713)964-0229
Volunteers
will make Thanksgiving or Christmas cards which will be used by Volunteer Houston's Holiday Project
volunteers in connection with Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day visits to
residents of local nursing homes. (See below for further details about the
visits.) No skills are required. They may make the cards on their own and
deliver them to Volunteer Houston at the address listed above. Guidelines for
making the cards are at www.volunteerhouston.us/cards. Also see "Family Volunteer Day" entry
immediately below for Volunteer Houston's in-house card-making session on
Saturday, November 17.
FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAY
Volunteer Houston
3015 Richmond, Suite 100 (77098)
Contact: Khristey Walker
(713)964-0217
On
Saturday, Nov. 17th, 2012 (National Family Volunteer Day), families with children ages 5-years of age and
up are invited to participate in Volunteer Houston's "Holiday Card
Project" from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon. After the card making project, these
families will be invited to enjoy a BYOL lunch in Levy Park, immediately behind
the 3015 Richmond building. Click here for
fuller details and an online signup form.
HOLIDAY SEASON
Center for Hearing
and Speech
3636 W. Dallas
(77019)
Contact: Katharine
Schaafs
713-523-3633, Ext.
119
kschaafs@centerhearingspeech.org
Via
Colori:
Via Colori is an annual street painting festival benefiting children
with profound hearing problems will be held at and around downtown's Sam
Houston Park on November 17 and 18. This unique event will feature entertainment, gourmet
cuisine, and over 200 artists creating pastel masterpieces on the street.
Volunteers
will be needed to help with setup, ticket and food sales, assisting at vendor
booths, and overseeing children's areas. Daytime and evening shifts will be
available. The minimum age for volunteers is 18 (10 are welcome if accompanied
by a parent). Available volunteer shifts: Saturday 10am-2pm or 2pm-6pm as well
as Sunday 10am-2pm and 2 pm-6 pm. More detailed information about the event can
be found at:
On-line
signup is available by going to the above website and clicking on "Be a
Volunteer" near the center of the page. Links to Parking and Driving
Directions, Volunteer Check-In
Information, Volunteer FAQs are on the
signup page.
THANKSGIVING DAY
City Wide Club of
Clubs
4715 Caroline (77004)
Register online at: http://www.citywideclub.com/donate.php
Call: (713) 752-2582
Thanksgiving
Big Feast. Will take place the morning of
Thanksgiving Day (November 22) at the downtown George R. Brown Convention
Center. 35,000 to 40,000 persons are expected to attend. Volunteers are needed
to help with setup, serving the meals, distribution of canned goods to the
needy, cleanup, etc. Shift times are flexible and can be arranged for almost
anytime between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Volunteers are invited to partake in the
meal. Teenagers are welcome.
THANKSGIVING DAY
Houston
International Festival Foundation
5373 W.
Alabama, Ste. 235
Houston, TX 77056
Register online
at: www.ifest.org/
For questions,
contact: Paul Pettie, Special Events
Manager
713-654-8808
volunteer@ifest.org
The 63rd annual
downtown Thanksgiving Day Parade is now called
the "H-E-B Holiday Parade". Proceeds generated in connection with the
parade support the Houston International Festival Foundation. Volunteers will
be needed between 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., with the parade itself officially starting
at 9 a.m. Assignments that morning will include helping with concessions,
tending a reserved seating area, escorting VIPs, ticket-taking, and assisting
with various other needs that arise. (Exact shift times may vary accrding to
assignments.) In return for your time you'll be accorded free parking,
breakfast and a commemorative tee shirt. Volunteers as young as 16 are
cordially welcome. Additonal information about the event and online volunteer
signup can be found at: www.ifest.org
THANKSGIVING DAY
Interfaith
Ministries for Greater Houston
3217 Montrose
Boulevard (77006)
Online volunteer
signup is available at:
www.imgh.org/meals-on-wheels/thanksgiving-day-volunteer
Or contact: Dorothy Broussard at 713-533-4936
or Karina Hernandez
at 713-533-4948.
Annual Thanksgiving Day Meals on Wheels
Delivery brings
traditional Thanksgiving meals on Thanksgiving Day (11/22/12) to seniors who
receive Meals on Wheels. These seniors have few or no home visits and
experience loneliness, sadness and hunger daily. Volunteer drivers will be
needed to deliver the meals on Thanksgiving Day. The meals will be
picked up at First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street (77004), with delivery
routes available in different areas of greater Houston.
Additional
details, including FAQs, are at www.imgh.org/meals-on-wheels/thanksgiving-day-volunteer.
.
THANKSGIVING DAY
Sheltering Arms
3838 Aberdeen Way (77025)
For complete information and online signup, visit http://turkeytrot.shelteringarms.org
Thanksgiving
morning (November 22) -"20th Annual TXU Energy Turkey Trot"-- a 10K, 5K, and Kids Run/Walk event benefiting Sheltering
Arms.
The
race starts and ends in front of Dillard's Galleria, Westheimer @ Post Oak.
Volunteers
will be needed to help with set-up, registration, water stations, course
monitoring, etc. Volunteers report for duty as early as 5 a.m. Minimum age for volunteers = 15 (no minimum
if accompanied by adult). Volunteers will receive free commemorative tee
shirts.
THANKSGIVING DAY
Volunteer Houston
3015 Richmond, Suite 100 (77098)
Register online at: www.holidayprojecthouston.org
For questions:
Contact: Walter
Black
(713)964-0229
thanksgiving@holidayprojecthouston.org
Volunteer
Houston's Holiday Project organizes visitations to institutional shut-ins in
connection with selected holidays throughout the year. On Thanksgiving
Day (11/22/12), volunteers are invited to come to either of the following 3
meeting locations from which the Thanksgiving visits will be organized:
CENTRAL
(Greenway Plaza/Upper Kirby District area):
Volunteer Houston offices -- 3015
Richmond, Suite 100 - Conference Room (77098)
NORTHWEST (near Huffmeister and Hwy
290):
Grace Care of Cypress -- 9602
Huffmeister (77095)
KATY
Grace
Care of Katy -- 23553
West Fernhurst Drive (77494)
(CLICK ON ANY OF THE LOCATION REFERENCES FOR A MAP OF THE
RESPECTIVE AREA)
The meeting time at all three locations is 9:30 a.m. The volunteers will divide
off into teams, each team to visit one nursing home. They will be provided with
maps to their respective destinations, as well as handmade Thanksgiving cards
to take to the persons they visit. Time spent on-site at the facilities can
vary, but generally the visits last from 1 to 2 hours. For complete information
and online signup, visit
http://www.holidayprojecthouston.org
CHRISTMAS SEASON
The Salvation
Army
1500 Austin;
Houston 77002
Contact: Monica
Santillán
(832) 201-8018
Monica_Santillan@uss.salvationarmy.org
The Salvation
Army offers the following 4 options for volunteer involvement during the
lead-up to Christmas:
Secret Santa
Warehouse
Volunteers come
to the Salvation Army's giant toyshop and help sort and package gifts for
underprivileged children and seniors.
Groups and individuals alike are encouraged to come out during November
and December to help Santa get ready for Christmas Day. Volunteers must be 16 or older. Light snacks and beverages will be provided
for volunteers by The Salvation Army.
Volunteer slots are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday and
some Saturdays during the following time-frame:.
November 15 - December 31
Volunteer shifts are: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Northwest Houston - inside the Beltway
(Exact address is semi-confidential for security
reasons)
Host a Toy
Drive
Help The
Salvation Army provide gifts to underprivileged children this Christmas and
collect new unwrapped toys. Get
creative and decorate a box with wrapping paper to make your own collection
container. Please contact The Salvation
Army about gift ideas and to get information about when and where to drop off
your collected items. Additionally, potential donors are also invited to
participate in the KHOU Spirit of Texas Toy Drive benefiting The Salvation
Army. Starting Thanksgiving Day, new, unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at any
Randalls store or at the Channel 11 studio located at 1945 Allen Parkway.
Mall Angel
Tree
Starting on
November 20, you can visit one of six Houston area shopping malls and adopt a
child or senior from one of our Mall Angel Trees. You can shop while you are there and place your gifts under the
tree.
Locations:
The Galleria
Katy Mills Mall
Memorial City Mall
Pasadena Town Square
The
Woodlands Mall
Willowbrook Mall
Adopt a
Kettle
Come with your family,
friends, church or organization and adopt a kettle location and help The
Salvation Army raise funds for the Salvation Army's Christmas programs. On the weekdays or Saturdays of your choice,
you'll station yourself next to a red donation kettle at a mall, supermarket,
or store in your preferred area and ring a classic Christmas bell to invite
passersby to make donations. (If you
like to sing or play an instrument ,
you're certainly encouraged to exercise that talent and transform your
volunteer shift into a "gig"!)
Assignments are available November through December.
CHRISTMAS SEASON
B.E.A.R. Program
Harris County Children's Protective Services
2223 West Loop South (77027)
Call: Michelle Searles at (713) 295-2794
michelle.searles@dfps.state.tx.us
CHRISTMAS SEASON
Harris County Psychiatric Center
2800 South MacGregor Way; Houston, Texas 77021
Contact: Carol Rone
713-741-8692
UT-Harris County Psychiatric
Center (HCPC) is in need of clothes for its patients. Volunteers --individuals
and groups -- are invited to initiate personalized clothing drives. There is
need of men's and women's pants,
jackets and shoes (not heels). There
are approximately 225 adult patients, 26 teens, and 8 younger children. HCPC
is also welcoming of holiday gifts of
toiletries & games for each unit.
CHRISTMAS SEASON
The Heritage Society
1100 Bagby; Houston, Texas 77002
Contact: Jennifer Jackson,
713-655-1912, Ext. 109
jjackson@heritagesociety.org
The Heritage Society's 50th
Annual Candlelight Tour, December 7, 8, &
9, 2012 (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday), 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., showcases
nine of Houston's oldest historic structures, now situated in downtown
Houston's Sam Houston Park, trimmed to perfection in traditional 19th century
décor. The flicker of candles carefully set out specifically for the event will
illuminate park with a holiday glow. Visitors touring the park will find that
each of the structures offers a different variety of family-friendly
entertainment including everything from storytellers and re-enactors to local
children's choirs. Children may also have their photo taken with Santa, play in
the snow, enjoy a holiday story-reading, and make crafts at Santa's Workshop.
Volunteers
are needed in the areas of hospitality,
ticket sales, entertainment, security, conducting a survey, Santa’s Workshop,
and various other event services. The minimum age for volunteers is 16.
Volunteers will be accorded free refreshments and parking passes.
CHRISTMAS SEASON
Memorial
Assistance Ministries
1625
Blalock Road
Houston,
TX 77080
Contact:
Sara Rice
713-574-7540
MAM
Christmas Share
This
program will provide children from newborn to age 10 (5th grade) with toys, and
children ages 11 (6th grade) through age 16 (10th grade) with gift cards so
that parents can momentarily forget about the worry of day-to-day living and
just celebrate the joy of the holidays with gifts for their children. Each
child will also receive a thick twin size blanket.
The
families participating in our program are those with the greatest need. All
reside in the zip codes supported by MAM. All have experienced significant
financially difficulty during the four or five months preceding Christmas. We
anticipate helping well over 150 families and approximately 600 children during
the 2012 holiday season.
Volunteers
are needed to help raise money, promote the program, plan toy/blanket
drives, and donate gift cards/toys to
MAM.
Seasonal
volunteers are also needed in the MAM Resale
Store. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to
assist with sorting and pricing donations and providing customer service in the
store. Volunteers are needed Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact
Sara Rice at 713-574-7540 or srice@maministries.org for additional
information.
CHRISTMAS SEASON
Christian Community Services Center
3230 Mercer (77027)
No prior registration needed -- "Please just show
up."
The "Jingle Bell Express" is an annual project providing toys, books, and holiday food packages to
over 3000 children from low-income families. It will be based at Bellaire
United Methodist Church at 4417 Bellaire Boulevard (just inside Loop 610 at
Newcastle.)
Volunteers
are wanted for two phases:
Sort
& Set-up (Prepare toys and food for distribution) -- Monday, Dec. 3, 2011
through Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 (6
PM - 8 PM).
Distribution
(Assist clients as they gather toys, books & food) -- Friday, Dec. 7, 2012
and Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012, 7:30AM - 1 PM.
If volunteers have any questions, they may contact CCSC at
713-961-3993.
CHRISTMAS SEASON
YMCA-
Tellepsen Family Downtown Branch
808
Pease (77002)
Call:
Damitra Myles
(713)
758-9148
mailto:JBRinfo@ymcahouston.org
“Jingle
Bell Run & Walk”- a fun run event taking
place in downtown Houston on Sunday, December 9. It will begin and finish in
front of the new Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA located at 808 Pease. The event
will feature a kids fun run (for those 13 and under), the 5-mile adult run, and
the 3-mile family run/walk. Preparations will begin before noon, with the first
race kicking off at 1 p.m. Volunteers will be
needed to help with set-up, registration, course monitoring, staffing of water
stations, etc. In return for their time, volunteers will receive free
refreshments and commemorative t-shirts. Further
information can be found at: www.ymcahouston.org/jingle-bell-run
CHRISTMAS EVE
City Wide Club of
Clubs
4715 Caroline (77004)
Register online at: http://citywideclub.com/donate.php
For questions, call:(713) 752-2582
Christmas
Eve Feast. Will take place the morning of
Christmas Eve (December 24) at the downtown George R. Brown Convention Center. 35,000
to 40,000 persons are expected to attend. Volunteers are needed to help with
setup, serving the meals, distribution of canned goods to the needy, cleanup,
etc. Shift times are flexible and can be arranged for almost anytime between 7
a.m. and 6 p.m. Volunteers are invited to partake in the meal. Teenagers are
welcome.
CHRISTMAS DAY
Volunteer Houston
3015 Richmond, Suite 100 (77098)
Register online at: www.holidayprojecthouston.org/hpc
For questions:
Contact: Walter
Black
(713)964-0229
Volunteer Houston's Holiday
Project organizes visitations to institutional
shut-ins in connection with selected holidays throughout the year. On Christmas
Day (12/25/12),
volunteers are invited to come to any of the following 4 meeting locations from
which Christmas visits will be organized.
CENTRAL (Greenway Plaza/Upper Kirby
District area):
Volunteer Houston offices -- 3015
Richmond, Suite 100 Conference Room (77098)
NORTHWEST (near Huffmeister and Hwy
290):
Grace Care of Cypress -- 9602
Huffmeister (77095)
KATY:
Grace Care of Katy -- 23553
West Fernhurst Drive (77494)
(CLICK
ON ANY OF THE ABOVE LOCATION REFERENCES FOR A MAP OF THE RESPECTIVE AREA. )
To accommodate differing schedule preferences of
volunteers, two different meeting times are offered at all three locations:
9:30 a.m. and 12 Noon. The volunteers will divide off into teams, each team to
visit one nursing home. They will be provided with maps to their respective
destinations, copies of Christmas carols, as well as Christmas cards to take to
the persons they visit. Time spent at the facilities will vary, but generally
the visits last from 1 to 1 1/2 hours
=========================================================================
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