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Indy With Kids would like to highlight some of the many ways Hoosier families can give back to local communities this holiday season. If you know of other organizations not listed below, who are helping to brighten the holiday season and bring cheer and goodwill to others, please share the information with Indy With Kids. You can look to child advocate groups, women’s shelters, homeless shelters, and many churches may know of families and individuals in need. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or other special days this holiday season, please consider volunteering your time or donating food, goods and services to help others in need. Kindness is a universal language that we should all practice daily in our lives.
For a complete list of volunteer opportunities available year round visit the following link.
BOONE COUNTY
Zionsville Food Pantry serves residents in need throughout Boone County. Volunteer opportunities for families with children of all ages. Families sort and distribute food on Thursdays from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and Fridays from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Assistance is also needed with shopping, organizing and unloading items throughout the holiday season and year-round.
Contact: Food Pantry Team 317-873-8137 ext. 1087
HAMILTON COUNTY
A county-wide mission of many churches & community volunteers who work together to help Hamilton County children and their families stay warm in winter. View the online calendar of events for volunteer opportunities throughout Hamilton County. |Hamilton County Kids Coats accept coats year-round at their headquarters at Carmel United Methodist Church 621 S Range Line Rd Carmel, IN 46032. Please contact Liz, the organization’s Volunteer Coordinator or call the office at (317) 324-8818 to see how else you can help keep Hamilton County families warm this holiday season! Follow Hamilton County Kids Coats on Facebook.
Foster Fairies Inc.
Non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children in foster care, who are receiving services through Child Advocates Inc., by providing for their specific needs and granting holiday wishes through Foster Fairies Annual Christmas Drive. *This organization is located in Fishers where donations are collected, but Foster Fairies helps abused and neglected children who are in foster care receiving services through Child Advocates Incorporated located in Indianapolis (Marion County).
Families can sponsor one or more of the 4,800 children currently in the system by participating in Foster Fairies Annual Christmas Drive.
Gifts for foster children can also be dropped off at Aleksandra’s home any time before December 5th. Please call or text Aleksandra on her cell phone to arrange drop off times at her home at (317) 413-7766.
Serves the physical, financial and emotional needs of individuals and families throughout Hamilton County Volunteer Opportunities for Families and Youth of All Ages. Volunteers are needed throughout the holiday season to assist with food drives and sort items.
Contact: Volunteer Services Coordinator, (317) 842-2603
A service project where children along with their parents volunteer at Meadow Brook Senior Living located in Fishers with fun monthly activities. Children of all ages along side with their parents may sign up as often as they would like for monthly activities. Holiday themed activities are planned around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Do not contact Meadow Brook Senior Living for information as they are not directly involved with Merging the Gap. For more information, contact Kayleigh Lyell at Merging The Gap.
MARION COUNTY
CHEER – Childhood Hunger Education, Engagement and Reverence
Children and their parents help stock the shelves of the Mid-North Food Pantry and can participate in self-run food drives at their schools, churches, scout groups, etc. For more information visit the following link. Volunteer opportunities throughout the holiday season are available for children ages 3-12 and their parents.
Contact: Erin Vincent, cheer@midnorthfoodpantry.org, CHEER Facebook Page
Gleaner’s Food Bank of Indiana
Committed to lead the fight against hunger in Central Indiana. Opportunities for families with children ages 9 years and older. Volunteers inspect and assemble food baskets, assist with clerical duties, and help stock and organize items throughout the holiday season.
Contact: Jessica Barnett, 317-829-1764 ext. 156
Humane Society of Indianapolis
Provides services to animals through sheltering and adoption, providing positive reinforcement behavior training through the shelter’s public training classes, and outreach through community programs. Volunteer Opportunities for Families with Children Ages 8 Years and Older. Parents and teens are able work directly with the animals. Children ages 8 and above provide assistance doing laundry, washing dishes and cleaning windows. Families are needed to foster animals as they wait for a permanent home as well. Please consider supporting the Humane Society this holiday season with volunteer efforts or donations.
Contact: Volunteer Services Coordinator, (317) 872-5650 ext. 106
Offers free Culinary Job Training, Food Rescue & Hunger Relief in Central Indiana.
Volunteer Opportunities for Teenagers 16 Years and Older: Kitchen and on-site tasks.
Family Opportunities throughout the holiday season: Organize collection drives, wash and clean the vehicle fleet among other tasks. Ask to be placed on the volunteer call list to be contacted when new projects are added using the contact information below.
Contact: Mary Parks, 317-632-2664 ext. 11
The state’s largest non-profit child and family services agency. Volunteer Opportunities for Families (Youth of All Ages Assist Their Parents): Collect new children’s books, create personal care kits and host gift card drives for those who care for foster children are just a few ways families can help this holiday season. For more info on opportunities, see the contact information.
Contact: Sarah Cline, (317) 775-6500
STATE-WIDE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Provides fresh, nutritious meals throughout the holiday season delivered directly to the homes of seniors and individuals with disabilities throughout the state of Indiana.Volunteer Opportunities For Families (Youth of All Ages Assist Their Parents): Families deliver meals to seniors who are homebound.
Contact: Volunteer Services Coordinator, 317-252-5558
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS – VOLUNTEER FROM YOUR HOME THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON
International charitable organization that spreads hope, joy & magic to hospitalized children across the nation through uplifting, hand-made cards. Volunteer Opportunities for Families of All Ages: Give your time by making cards for children in hospitals around the country. You can even host a card making party and invite your friends and extended-family members to your home or other location such as a public library to create handmade cards together.
Contact: Cards For Hospitalized Kids
Soldiers’ Angels
National program provides aid and comfort to men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families, and veterans. Volunteer Opportunities for Families of All Ages: Team Angels or Verified Angels are volunteers who serve virtually by mail. Soldiers’ Angels has twelve teams you can volunteer with from the comfort of your home anywhere in the world: Deployed Adoptions, Chaplain Support, Special Operations Forces, Angel Bakers, Ladies of Liberty, Letter Writing, Cards Plus, Operation Top Knot, Women of Valor, Living Legends, Sewing, and Adopt-a-Family.
Contact: Soldiers’ Angels, 210-629-0020
If you do not see any volunteer opportunities that interest you on this list, please visit Volunteer Match to find something that does suit your family.
When you attend this and other activities with your family, please be sure to share your experiences on social media with Indy with Kids using the hashtag #PLAYindy. Follow Indy with Kids on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and don’t forget to use the Indy with Kids Mobile App for up to date information on all the wonderful local happenings for your family!
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Find all Indy holiday events here.
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