Ask Your Heart Out: Oh, Volunteers
The holiday season is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start sharing your bounty. And if you can’t do that, why not opt for your time and energy instead? Liz is looking to spread some good will, and wrote in to gather ideas for family volunteering. She’s thinking soup kitchens, shelters, and anything/anywhere else that’s local, family-friendly and could use a helping hand now and through the holidays.
Hands were made for helping. Share your thoughts below.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:29 am
I have a friend who’s organizing a sock drive for the homeless. If Liz wants more information, feel free to email me! unothinkmybrain(at)hotmail(dot)com
November 11th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Family Volunteer Day November 21, 09. The day is designed to demonstrate the power of families who choose to volunteer together to support the communities in which they live and serve.
As a local sponsor, United Way of Utah County is celebrating this day by inviting families across the valley to serve in local areas of need. On Saturday November 21, 2009, teams of family volunteers will gather for a pancake breakfast and will split up to serve in various locations. Projects include helping with home construction for families in need, making and setting up holiday decorations for elderly and disabled community members, providing assistance with yard work to military families, painting a school playground, putting together charitable care packages and gifts, etc. We have other service projects that we would love to accomplish; we will add these projects depending on available volunteers.
Who: Families! Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and kids!
When: Saturday, November 21, 2009. Registration and breakfast from 8:30-9:00am, projects from 9:30-11:30am
Where: Locations yet to be announced!
November 11th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
the 12 days of christmas is always a good one, I think. But from reading the comments I know JUST the elderly neighbor I’ll be telling we’ll help set up decorations the day after thanksgiving. THANKS!
November 11th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
This is such a great idea. I’m so glad that YHO is posting on this because I’m always wishing I knew more about local volunteer opportunities.
There is a program called IRC that I have been doing research on lately. They are an organization that help out refugees that have recently arrived in Salt Lake. They have a lot of programs to help them out that you can check out at - http://www.theirc.org/us-program/us-salt-lake-city-ut
Also they have their next volunteer orientation coming up on the Monday the 23rd of November at their head quarters located at 231 East 400 South Suite 50 - Salt Lake City, UT 84111.
I’m planning to be there, I hope that I see some of you there too!
November 11th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Purchase a Christmas gift for someone in need through Angel Tree. Select an Angel Tree name from trees located at Macy’s Department Store at University Mall (Orem) or Cypress Credit Union (Lehi). For more info you can call 801 356-6300.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I have the same idea as Jessica!! Tonight, actually, the youth group I work with went down to a refugee family to deliver their Christmas gifts! If you want more ideas on how to help them or be involved in providing a Christmas or assistance or love, please feel free to email me at jacobs1@hotmail.com and I can direct you!!! Thanks YHO! I will keep my eyes and ears open for other opportunities!!!
November 12th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
The Bennion Center at the U has lots of service ideas : http://www.sa.utah.edu/Bennion/other/index.htm
November 13th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Thanks for mentioning United Way of Utah County Family Volunteer Day. If you go to United Way of Utah County’s website, you can find many more volunteer opportunities. Right now you can find a great link of volunteer ideas that are centered around the holidays. http://bit.ly/45ePc3
November 13th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
if you can knit or crochet why not volunteer your talent and time and make a hat or scarf or both for our soldiers serving in Afghanistan. Operation Gratitude is a nonprofit that sends care packages to soldiers serving overseas. They are currently looking for scarves and hats.
I’m trying to get something together to send, if anyone would like to help all the info can be found on my blog: jorgensensblog.blogspot.com
Thanks, YHO this is a great post
November 14th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
The Road Home has recently opened an emergency winter shelter in Midvale. It basically is a warehouse with wall to wall beds and not much else. There are about 150 people (women, men, children) sleeping there and they need dinners brought in. Our church group went last week and brought a meal and activities for the kids. They were very grateful. They also have a list of donations they need. (http://www.theroadhome.org/pdfs/Winter%20Shelter%20Needs.pdf) To contact the Midvale shelter, you can call the main Road Home shelter and ask for the number.
December 10th, 2009 at 7:59 am
[...] some holiday bounty or spread some seasonal cheer? Be a volunteer. Read through the comments on this Ask Your Heart Out post for [...]
December 10th, 2009 at 10:14 am
I work for the Food Bank referring people in need to different resources around the state and we have been getting so many calls for Christmas presents recently. The Salvation Army will be able to help provide gifts for over 3000 families with their Angel Tree and Toys for Tots programs. If you’d like to you can pick up an Angel Tree name at any Macy’s or Cypress Credit Union around the valley.
And while the help provided to those 3000 families is more than incredible, there are still so many that need help they may not get. If you and your family are looking for another place to donate gifts please take them down to Eagle Ranch Ministries at 1624 South 1000 West in Salt Lake. They will provide gifts to needy children up until Christmas Eve and they could certainly use the help. They take donations on Tuesdays between 12-3. They’ll take any new, unwrapped items you’re willing to donate.