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Giving Back at Thanksgiving

November 22, 2016

Volunteer

Contribute to our list of Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday volunteer opportunities this season! Please note: this information and the organizations/groups listed are for informational purposes only and MyActiveChild does not endorse them just because they are included in this listing. Please do your own research before donating or becoming involved in any organization or group.

Comment below (or email [email protected]) and let us know:

A) Programs accepting volunteers for the Thanksgiving/Winter Holidays– please include a contact or web link if possible. Church dinners, food drives, school fundraisers- all are welcome.

B) Dates/locations of Thanksgiving/WinterHoliday programs to benefit the community, such as Thanksgiving dinners open to the public. I would like to make sure that families that need the extra support this holiday season know of the resources available.

You are all such an amazing wealth of information, thank you for sharing with us!

~Charlotte


Programs Accepting Donations/Volunteers: 


2Hands: Christmas Help in Virginia

This website connects families in need to those who are able to provide assistance.

5th Annual Stocking and Toy drive

For adults living on the streets & families with children living in hotels.To participate e-mail [email protected]. Last year we collected over 800 stockings and toys because of YOUR CARING HEARTS! Please help us again so the children can see Santa, pick out a stocking, a new toy, a new blanket, along with other treats.  

Angel Card Project

November – December 2016. Join the Angel Card Project and volunteer to send Christmas Cards to those less fortunate who need some Christmas Cheer! 
 

Beach Bags Program (VBSchools)

The Beach Bags program provides shelf-stable meals and healthy snacks to students who might otherwise go hungry during weekends and over school breaks, including the long summer breaks.
 

The Chesapeake Arboretum 

Volunteers are the backbone of the Arboretum. With 48 acres of trees, trails, picnic areas, barns and the homestead house it would be impossible to operate the facility without volunteer efforts. Scouts, civic leagues, church groups and many others volunteer thousands of hours each year to keep the facility maintained for public use.

 

Chesapeake Noland: Food Drive

Help The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and The Eastern Shore to meet the food needs of the local community during the upcoming holiday season. Donation bins will be available in Noland’s facility at 663 Woodlake Drive in the Greenbrier area of Chesapeake  Oct. 28 through Nov. 26th
 

Coats for Families Coat Drive

Takes place November 11, 2016 – January 6, 2017. You can drop off a new or gently used coat now at any Southside Albano Cleaners locations, any Peninsula Cho’s Cleaners locations, and at various locations throughout Hampton Roads.

 

Community Dinner at Oak Grove Church

Each Wednesday evening (6:30-7:30pm), you and all the community are invited to a free meal that you can enjoy while making new friends and meeting some of your neighbors. Everyone is welcome and there are no strings attached! Volunteers are also needed.

 

Edmarc Children’s Hospice

A variety of volunteer opportunities including Making Cards, Child Care, Homemaking Tasks, Meal assistance, Camp volunteers, Carpentry, Yard work, etc. volunteer requests: 

 

Fill the Canoe Food Drive at Virginia Living Museum

In this season of THANKS and GIVING….The Virginia Living Museum is collecting non-perishable food items for the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank during the month of November, through November 29! Bring your items to the front lobby admission desk and receive a coupon that will entitle you to a “bottomless Fountain Drink or Coffee” at the Wild Side Cafe! Donations will be collected in November. Coupons must be redeemed by 12/31/16.

 

Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia

Year round drop-off sites for food donations

 

Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia

Looking for volunteers to help sort and distribute food. Please visit the www.foodbankonline.org to sign up. Please direct questions to Jan Cline at 314-4576.

 

Give A Meal

Give a Meal is a promotional campaign of Feeding America with the goal to help provide meals to families in need this holiday season. 


Giving Tuesday: A Global Day of Giving

Various locations across Hampton Roads and the US. Tuesday, November 29, 2016 #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration.

Habitat for Humanity

Two thrift stores in Hampton Roads – one in Norfolk and one in Virginia Beach. Volunteers are needed to staff the stores. 

Hoffler Creek Volunteer Work Day

Saturday, December 10, 2016 from 10am-1pm. Every bit of help goes a long way when you join us for grounds and trail maintenance during this monthly event!. Also January 14, 2017, February 11, 2017.

 

Holiday Yule Log and Bonfire, Food Drive

Saturday, December 3,2016 from 12-8pm at Town Point Park, Norfolk
 

The Judeo-Christian Outreach Center

Looking for volunteers for various tasks. Please visit www.jcoc.org/volunteer for more information or call at 491-2846. 

 

Kellam High School drive for victims of floods after Hurricane Matthew

Donations are being accepted for families of Windsor Woods. Large donations of clothes and shoes can be brought to A110. Smaller donations of school supplies, toiletries and non-perishable food can be placed in the bins by the auditorium.; Also 12/3 CHKD Toy Drive and Car Show. 

 

LifeBuilders Inc

Accepting donations and volunteers for their Christmas Dinner Event. Donations of hygiene products, cleaning products, and food items to help those with limited means. We also need volunteers to help with preparing Christmas baskets, serving, set-up & clean-up. 


Mentoring with the Up Center

Mentors needed – over 300 youth are in need of caring mentors! Orientation sessions take place the third Wednesday of each month at The Up Center Portsmouth Office, at 1805 Airline Blvd., Portsmouth, VA 23707. RSVP: 757-397-2121 ext. 337.

 

Operation Gratitude: 

Donations being accepted for wish list items, handmade scarves, paracord survival bracelets, beanie babies/webkinz/trolls, and financial donations. 

Operation Help A Hero

Christmas assistance for active duty military families. Donations are being accepted.

Prep for ForKids Inc’s Holiday Shop

Date & Times: Shift available from 11/28 – 12/12, shifts options 11 am – 1 PM or 2 PM – 4 pm; One shift 12/18 12:30 PM – 3:30PM Every year ForKids’ amazing donors provide brand new toy items & gifts for our families to brighten up their holidays! Come out to assist us with organizing our “shop” or even be a personal shopper with one of our current/former clients and help them choose gifts for their children! 
Age Minimum (with Adult) – 10.


PSPCA Holiday Wish Tree

At Care-A-Lot Newport News from November 1 – 30! You can make a difference in an animal’s life by supporting thePSPCAthrough a wish tree donation!  
 

Salvation Army Angel Tree

Location: Throughout Hampton Roads

Soldiers’ Angels- Operation Outreach Christmas Adoption 

You can sign up to sponsor a lower-enlisted military family for the holidays, or if you are a military family in need of extra support you can submit a request.
 

The Little Gym

Donations are being collected for the Food Bank through November 23rd! Donations for Toys for Tots until December 15th!
 

Toys For Tots Hampton Roads

There are many drop off locations throughout Hampton Roads. For locations, click here: http://virginia-beach-va.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/donate-toys.aspx For Toys for tots events, click here: http://virginia-beach-va.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/local-events.aspx

Virginia Beach United Methodist Church Kid’s Closet

Offers clothing to any child who is in need whether its members of their church, local schools, etc. Donations requested: New underwear and socks, Clean, gently worn shoes, Clean, gently used children’s clothing, Diapers, Formula, Decorated place mats & decorations for dining tables. 

Z104StuffTheBus 

November 28th – December2nd2016. For 11 years, Z104 has partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve: Toys for Tots Program, collecting over 1 MILLION TOYS for children in need right here in Hampton Roads! 

 

 
 
Additional resources for finding Volunteer Opportunities near you include http://www.volunteerhr.org and http://www.volunteermatch.org/

 

 

Thanksgiving/Winter-Holiday Programs/Events to Benefit the Community:
 



This website connects families in need to those who are able to provide assistance.


Beulah Tabernacle Church Christmas Dinner for Families in Need

Free Event. Space is limited. Please call (757) 952-6236 to RSVP.

Community Dinner at Oak Grove Church

Each Wednesday evening (6:30-7:30pm), you and all the community are invited to a free meal that you can enjoy while making new friends and meeting some of your neighbors. Everyone is welcome and there are no strings attached! Volunteers are also needed.

Operation Help A Hero

Christmas assistance for active duty military families. Donations are being accepted.

Salvation Army Community Thanksgiving Feast

The Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center located at 1401 Ballentine Blvd. Norfolk, VA 23504 
Sunday, November 20 from 4:00 – 7:30pm
This event is free and open to the public. Come for food, fellowship, and fun! For more information, please visit The Salvation Army Area Command.

Salvation Army Holiday Assistance

Christmas assistance to families in need. Families with children ages 0-11 may apply for this program and receive toys, food and, if selected for the Angel Tree program, clothing items as well. 2016 Informational Flyer & Schedule Available for Download Here.

Soldiers’ Angels- Operation Outreach Christmas Adoption

You can sign up to sponsor a lower-enlisted military family for the holidays, or if you are a military family in need of extra support you can submit a request.

 

Trees for Troops – Fort Eustis/Langley

December 5, 2016 from 9am until trees are gone. First come, first served. Military ID required.
Location: Covered Pavilion, Schultz PL next to the Reserve Center, Fort Eustis.
Location: Bethel Park 123 Saunders Rd Hampton, VA 23666

Trees for Troops – JEB Little Creek/Fort Story

December 2, 2016 from 12pm-6:30pm (Priority Groups, ID required)
December 4, 2016 from 12pm-6:30pm (All Military, ID required)
Location: Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story 2600 Tarawa Ct, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23459
 

Virginia Beach United Methodist Church Kid’s Closet

Offers clothing to any child who is in need whether its members of their church, local schools, etc. Shop nights are held in the Fellowship Hall 6:30pm-7:30pm, 3rd Mondays: September – May.

 
Additions to this list can be emailed to [email protected]

Tags: Giving Back, Volunteer Opportunities, and Volunteer with Kids
Categories: Information

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