Ways Your Family Can Give Back this Holiday Season (and Beyond)

During the Holiday Season, it is easy to get wrapped up in the gimmes. Kids get excited to choose and ask for gifts, but it is an excellent time to remind them about the joys of giving to others, too. One of my favorite yearly traditions is taking my kids to the store to choose a gift not for themselves but for a kid their same age, which we then donate to a local Toys for Tots box. Below is a list of volunteer opportunities that could be done with children during the holidays or year-round. 

💝 Fulfill wish lists of local kids on Daymaker

💝 Deliver wreaths to the graves of veterans through Wreaths Across America

💝 Make Santa wishes come true through The United Postal Service Operation Santa project

💝 Donate new or gently-used coats to the One Warm Coat project

💝 Find a location to donate a new toy to Toys for Tots

💝 Be a Holiday Helper to gift local families with holiday cheer with Angels for Children with MHP 

💝 Write letters to residents at a local nursing home or through Love for Our Elders

💝 Sponsor a family through a Wider Circle

💝 Bake cookies or treats and deliver to first responders at the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department or the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad

💝 Donate towels and pet supplies to an animal shelter like the Humane Rescue Alliance

💝 Collect food or resources to add to a local Free Little Pantry in your neighborhood

💝 Be a Friend of Sligo Creek and clean up trash and debris from the waterways and trails

💝 Donate diapers, baby supplies or time (even kids are welcome) to the Great DC Diaper Bank 

💝 Assemble food and health and wellness boxes with Tommy's Pantry (kids ages 11 and up; contact organizers for volunteer opportunities for younger kids)

💝 Send a letter to a soldier through Operation Gratitude

💝 Make soup to deliver to shelters through the KindSoup project with DoKindWorks

💝 Put together comfort boxes for children in foster care with Comfort Cases

💝 Make casseroles for So Others Might Eat

💝 Find available volunteer projects in your area through the Montgomery County Volunteer Center

💝 Serve food at Shepherd's Table (kids age 13 and up) 

💝 Organize a book drive for Small Things Matter's Books for Bedtime program

Does your family have a favorite way that you give back? 

Email LeahS@macaronikid.com and we will add it to the list above!