The holiday season is a beautiful time to remind our children that giving is just as meaningful as receiving. When the lights go up and the calendar fills with festive plans, many parents begin searching for ways their kids can volunteer during Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the holidays. Families all across Central Indiana are looking for places where children can help serve meals, donate gifts, pack care kits, or simply share kindness with neighbors who need a little extra support.
As a mom, I’ve found that holiday volunteering creates some of our most memorable traditions. Kids love being part of something bigger than themselves, and these seasonal opportunities make it easy for families to give back together. Whether you’re hoping to volunteer with younger children, find Christmas service projects for teens, or participate in a Thanksgiving community event, there are many ways for families to make a difference right here in Indianapolis and beyond.
Indy Area Holiday Volunteering Opportunities for Kids and Families
Below, you’ll find a collection of holiday volunteer opportunities for kids and families. Each listing is family-friendly, meaningful, and perfect for creating new traditions of generosity this season.
Foster Fairies
This Fishers-based nonprofit supports children in foster care by fulfilling needs and holiday wish lists for kids receiving services through Child Advocates Inc. Families can sponsor a child through the Annual Christmas Drive or donate items year-round. Many children in the system are in need of clothing, personal items, and comforting gifts.
The Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Ringing
Ringing the bell for The Salvation Army is a festive and family-friendly way for kids to give back during the holiday season. Children love greeting shoppers, singing carols, and helping collect donations that support local families in need. Shifts are short, easy to sign up for, and perfect for all ages when accompanied by an adult. It’s a simple tradition that helps kids experience the joy of serving others while spreading holiday cheer.
Operation Christmas Child
Families can fill a shoebox with small toys, school supplies, and personal care items to brighten a child’s holiday through Operation Christmas Child. Kids love choosing items and packing the box themselves, and many families add a handwritten note or photo so the child who receives it knows someone is thinking of them. Shoeboxes are collected at local drop-off locations each fall, and this simple project is an easy way for even young children to learn about generosity and global giving.
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana
Families with children ages 9 and up can volunteer at Gleaners with their guardian to help inspect and sort food donations, assemble boxes, and organize items for distribution. Gleaners serves countless Hoosier families and relies on volunteers throughout the year.
Good Samaritan Network
Serving Hamilton County, this organization coordinates food drives, holiday assistance, and community programs. Families of all ages can help sort items or support seasonal service events. Sign up on the Good Samaritan Network website.
Hamilton County Kids Coats
This county-wide program helps children stay warm during Indiana winters. Families can volunteer at distribution events, help sort coat donations, or drop off gently used coats at the Carmel United Methodist Church location. Coats are accepted year-round. Kids Coats has events in Arcadia, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Sheridan, and Westfield.
Humane Society of Indianapolis (Indy Humane)
Perfect for animal-loving kids. Families can support the shelter by helping with laundry, dishes, window cleaning, and other tasks. Children ages 8 and up can volunteer with a parent, and older teens may work more directly with animals. Indy Humane also offers Parent & Me programs, camps, and service clubs. Families are also encouraged to consider fostering animals. The Indy Humane website has a section with details about volunteer opportunities.
Indy Urban Acres
This collection of organic farms donates 100% of its harvest to local food pantries. Volunteers of all ages help with planting, weeding, harvesting, and cleaning produce at Indy Urban Acres. It’s a beautiful hands-on experience for kids who enjoy being outdoors and learning where food comes from.
Meals on Wheels
Families can deliver nutritious meals to seniors and adults with disabilities across Indiana through Meals on Wheels volunteering. Kids of all ages can ride along with parents to help deliver food and share a friendly greeting with homebound neighbors.
Million Meal Movement
This organization invites families to help pack meals for Hoosiers facing food insecurity. Children ages 6 and older can participate in monthly community meal-packing events at Million Meal Movement with their family. It’s a high-energy, feel-good experience that helps kids understand hunger in Indiana while giving them the chance to make a measurable impact.
Mozel Sanders Foundation
The Mozel Sanders Foundation has been feeding neighbors in need for more than 40 years, serving over 40,000 hot meals during their Annual Thanksgiving “Feed the Hungry” event. Families can support this long-standing Indianapolis tradition by donating canned goods, nonperishable food, toiletries, paper products, and gift cards throughout the year. This is a wonderful way for kids to help ensure local families enjoy a warm holiday meal.
Sam’s Wish
Created by siblings Heather Stephenson and Sam McNew, Sam’s Wish inspires kids to practice kindness by helping others. Activities include making cards for children in hospitals, delivering flowers to senior living residents, and participating in community service days. Their Facebook page and website share upcoming opportunities and camps.
Second Helpings
Second Helpings offers special volunteer sessions designed just for families and youth groups with children ages 5–15. Kids take part in hands-on tasks that support daily operations, beginning with a short tour to learn how Second Helpings fights hunger in Central Indiana. Volunteer activities may include washing the food rescue vans, cleaning facilities, or helping with simple prep tasks. These experiences are offered twice a month and always require a parent or chaperone. Families can also support Second Helpings by hosting a pasta drive, which is an easy way for classrooms or scout groups to help provide the 1,000 pounds of pasta used each week.
Shepherd Community Center
Located on Indy’s east side, Shepherd Community Center focuses on helping families break the cycle of poverty. Volunteer activities include stocking the food pantry, serving meals, reading with children, visiting neighbors, and assisting with holiday programs. Age requirements vary, and some events allow younger children to participate with their accompanying adult. More information is available on their website.
Soldiers’ Angels
A national program supporting deployed service members, veterans, and military families. Families can volunteer from home for Soldiers’ Angels through virtual teams that focus on baking, sewing, writing letters, sending cards, or supporting a deployed service member for ongoing encouragement. Kids of all ages can participate with parent help. There are also in-person opportunities like visiting patients in VA hospitals, food distribution, special events, and others.
The Villages
Indiana’s largest nonprofit child and family services agency, The Villages, supports thousands of children statewide. Families can collect new books, assemble personal care kits, or host gift card drives for foster families. This is an excellent option for families with younger children who want to help from home or school. Children cannot volunteer directly on-site with the organization, but can have a meaningful impact in so many other ways.
Wheeler Mission
Families with children can help serve daily meals to people staying at some Wheeler Mission locations. Kids ages 8 and older are welcome to volunteer alongside a parent, making this a powerful way for young helpers to practice compassion. Families assist with preparing simple meal items, filling trays, handing out drinks, rolling silverware, and offering friendly smiles to guests. Up to five volunteers can serve at a time, and all children must be registered and accompanied by an adult. This opportunity is a gentle introduction to service for school-age kids and gives them a chance to make a real difference for other families.
Zionsville Food Pantry
Families with children of all ages can volunteer by sorting and distributing food to Boone County residents. Help is needed at the Zionsville Food Pantry on Thursdays and Fridays, along with additional support during the holiday season. This is a great entry point for first-time family volunteers.
Cards for Hospitalized Kids
Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK) collects homemade cards and sends them to children in hospitals in all 50 states. The goal of CFHK is to spread hope, joy, and magic to hospitalized children through handmade cards. General cards, as well as birthday and holiday cards, are accepted year-round. You can also host a card-making party, inviting friends and providing the supplies to make cards to create together. Additional information can be found on the CFHK website.
Host A Packing Party
Gather a bunch of friends and host a kit assembly party. There is a need at shelters for basic hygiene items (e.g., soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste). Collect travel-size items, or ask each child to bring 25 of each item. Then sort by item on a table and give each child a ziplock bag, having them place one of each item in the bag. When their bag is full, they start again! We found a bulk item website where we could get all the needed items for Wheeler Mission at a reasonable price. With lots of hands, the packing goes quickly.
More Ways Families Can Spread Kindness
If you’re not sure where to start, many local organizations, churches, schools, and shelters can guide you to families and neighbors who could use extra support. You might donate holiday gifts, sponsor a family, bake cookies for senior centers, or create blessing bags to keep in your car for people in need.
Small acts matter. Kids learn compassion by doing something simple and seeing the difference it makes.
If you know of a volunteer opportunity we should add to this list, please email us at info @ indywithkids . com
Find all Indy holiday events here.
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