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Volunteers are critical to the people of Dallas. The city and entire metroplex offers a wide variety of opportunities and invaluable experiences for holiday volunteer opportunities in Dallas.
And perhaps volunteering is your superpower:
Not to long ago, I invited Corina Sadler from the City of Plano on the podcast to chat how to Volunteer in Plano.
These are your holiday volunteer opportunities in Dallas and Collin County
Christmas Cops in Plano
Christmas Cops is a program operated by Plano Police employees to assist Plano families in need during the Christmas Season. Collection boxes are placed at numerous local businesses, fire stations, libraries, and city facilities to collect toys, food, new coats, and miscellaneous household items. Shortly before Christmas, our Officers and Santa’s Helpers make deliveries to these families.
Donations accepted thru December 9
Thanksgiving Giving at FCC Plano
On November 20th at the 9:00 am and 11:15 am worship service at First Christian Church of Plano in downtown Plano on 15th street, they will be gathering fresh fruits and vegetables to add to the pantry at the Samaritan Inn of McKinney.
You might also like reading these for a deeper insight:
Minnie’s Food Pantry
Volunteers are essential to the success of Minnie’s Food Pantry Plano Volunteer “WOW” center. It is a production and an experience like no other. The volunteer shift is from 8:00am- 12:00pm and you must be committed to the entire shift. Our volunteers are a diverse group of individuals, corporations and community leaders that are passionate about serving our community.
The Assistance Center of Collin County
The Assistance Center provides short term financial assistance that stabilizes the home allowing the family to peace of mind to engage in those strategies designed to aid them in attaining financial stability.
Website: http://www.assistancecenter.org
Contact: Yvonne P. Booker 972-422-1125
“Host an Angel Tree”
Organizations will commit to providing holiday gifts for children. Organizations can determine how many children they would like to serve. The Assistance Center will provide that information along with the child’s “wish list” to serve as a guide for gift selection.
Date/Time: November 1st through December 2nd
The Assistance Center of Collin County
“Deliver Gifts to Families”
As a part of our angel tree initiative, individuals adopt and provide gifts for families and their children and if they choose to, deliver those gifts directly to the family. For some adopters, the ability to deliver is not possible due to family travel. We then use community volunteers to deliver the gifts.
Date/Time: Saturday December 17th or Sunday, December 18th. (Saturday 8:30AM-4:00pm, Sunday 1PM-4PM)
Address: Warehouse being identified.
Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center
Clothes Closet Drive
Through its Clothes Closet, DCAC provides new clothes, toys, cleaning supplies and other essentials to our families of abused children to alleviate some of the financial burden they face in their day-to-day lives. The Clothes Closet is running very low in its supply of diapers, wipes, bottles, pacifiers and toiletries including kids’ shampoo/conditioner, body soap/shower gel (adult and baby), body lotion (adult and baby), deodorant, toothpaste/toothbrushes, and feminine hygiene products. DCAC welcomes donor participation in a drive to supply these critical needs to our families.
Minimum Age to Participate: 18 years of age.
Address: Donations to be made to 5351 Samuell Blvd., Dallas, TX 75228
Jonathan’s Place
For the past 25 years Jonathan’s Place has cared for over 4,700 abused, abandoned and neglected children. We give them love, support, comfort and protection from adults that are their primary care giver. As we all know, parents should love, protect and care for their children. When that care is abusive in any way, the child is brought to Jonathan’s Place. Our emergency shelter, girls residential therapeutic program, foster care and adoption program, Safe Place and transiti0nal living program are created to address the vital needs of children ages newborn to 18. who have no one to support their growth, development and transitions through life. Jonathan’s Place is devoted to giving every child that comes through our doors a safe place, a loving home and a promising future by offering a continuum of care to abused children. Child abuse has no time, date, season or reason. Jonathan’s Place is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to children in crisis hat need a home, food, clothing, medical care, safety and love.
Website: http://www.jpkids.org
Contact: Landon Cole 972-303-5303 ext:248
Outing for Children
Provide a fun outing for the children in the emergency shelter or girls residential treatment program to either bowing, movie, Main Event, etc.
Date/Time: The week of 12.19.16
Minimum Age to Participate: 18
Address: Based on outing
Jonathan’s Place
Christmas Party
Have a Christmas Party for the children in the emergency shelter or girls residential treatment program at Jonathan’s Place.
Dates/Times: Flexible
Minimum Age to Participate: 18
Address: 6065 Duck Creek Drive, Garland, TX
Jonathan’s Place
Outing for Children!
Provide a fun outing for the children in the emergency shelter or girls residential treatment program to either bowling, movie, Main Event, etc.
Dates/Times: The week of 11-21-16
Minimum Age to Participate: 18
Address: Based on outing
The North Texas Food Bank
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit relief organization, providing access to more than 170,000 meals each day for hungry children, seniors and families through a network of more than 1,000 programs and 200 Partner Agencies in our 13-country service area. In fiscal year 2015, NTFB provided access to some 63 million meals but the need for hunger relief in North Texas today is recently launched a 10-year plan to provide access to 92 million nutritious meals annually by 2025, a nearly 50 percent increase from the current output. NTFB is a member of Feeding America, a national hunger relief organization.
Contact: Jennifer Green 214-270-2009
Our Community Pantry- 5 Slots Reserved
Food Pantry Volunteer-Greet and assist clients in shopping, stock items in the pantry, bag fresh produce, operate register to check out groceries, bag and carry out for clients.
Volunteers must have good verbal skills and physically be able to bend, stoop and life 15 pounds repeatedly throughout their 4 hour shift. Courtesy and helpfulness are expected. Closed toe shoes are required. Ability to work in a fast paced environment and be on your feet for several hours at a time. Must be able to serve the entire 4 hour shift.
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 22nd. 1Pm-5PM. Unclaimed slots will be released to other volunteers on 11/15/16.
Address: 1502 Pennsylvania Ave, Dallas, TX 75215
The North Texas Food Bank
Mobile Pantry – 8 Slots Reserved
Like a market on wheels, the North Texas Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry program is a traveling pantry that delivers nutritious food, including fresh produce and refrigerated items, directly to communities with high need. A minimum of 3,000 pounds of food from NTFB’s warehouse is loaded onto a truck and delivered to a host site to feed 100-300 families.
Greet and assist clients in selecting produce, assist clients in registering for distribution, bag fresh produce, and carry produce out for clients.
Volunteers must have good verbal skills and physically be able to bend, stoop and life at least 25 pounds repeatedly throughout their 2 hour shift. Courtesy and helpfulness are expected. Closed toed shoes are required. Ability to work in a fast paced environment and be on your feet for hours at a time while outdoors (rain or shine). Must be able to servce the entire 2 hour shift.
Dates/Times: Wednesday, December 7th, 9AM-11AM.
Address: 1502 Pennsylvania Ave, Dallas, TX 75215
The North Texas Food Bank
School Pantry Lenore Kirk Hall- 5 Slots Reserved
School Pantry volunteers spend 2.5 hours setting up a temporary pantry on a school campus, distributing food to students and families, and tearing down the pantry when all the food has been distributed. It is a great opportunity for volunteers who love to work with kids and really appreciate the direct client interaction.
Each student receives at least 15 lbs. of shelf stable items in a box and at least 15 lbs. of fresh produce in a bag. Our volunteers primarily help families carry food to their cars because we mostly deal with young children who cannot life the heavy boxes and bags themselves (although they often try!). Closed toe shoes are required.
Dates/Times: Thursday, December 15th. 2:30PM-5:00PM. Unclaimed slots will be released to other volunteers on 12/8/16.
Address: 2120 Keats Dr., Dallas, TX 75211
Frisco Family Services
Frisco Family Services exists to help members of our communities who are facing hunger, homelessness and other urgent needs to improve their quality of life and achieve self-sufficiency. With your help we can make a difference. Our website furthers our mission by providing ways for you to learn more and get involved.
Website: Friscofamilyservices.org
Contact: Programs@friscocenter.org 972-355-9495
Toy Drive
We will be providing toys and gifts to more than 1,000 children, parents, senior citizens this Holiday season. In addition, clients will utilize our food pantry and get an increased amount of food for the Holidays. With your help, we can make this a brighter Holiday for these families.
Date/Time: Donations can be made by Dec. 5th, no later than Dec. 9th.
Address: To be determined closer to day of event.
Frisco Family Services
Thanksgiving Meal Plan
Helping provide Thanksgiving Meals for those in need. All donations must be made no later than Nov. 16th.
Dates/Times: Drop off dates Nov. 14th-16th, Monday and Tuesday 9AM-5PM, and Wednesday from 9AM-6Pm.
Address: FFS Pantry, 9085 Dogwood, Frisco
Bed Start
Sharing Beds and furnishings with love to our neighbors in need!
Website: http://www.bedstart.org
Contact: Doug Nikols Director@bedstart.org
1. Serve on crews dispersed throughout Collin and North Dallas
Pickup donations of gently used beds & furniture from gracious households & provide to neighbors in need at no cost.
Date/Time:
Every Saturday morning; rain, shine, or snow. 8AM-12PM
Minimum Age to Participate: Any age, but under 16 must have parent or guardian with them.
Address: 6601 Custer Road, Plano, TX 75023
Mosaic Family Services
Mosaic Family Services is a safe haven for survivors of human rights abuses, including domestic violence and human trafficking. Our mission is to support, educate, and empower the multicultural communities of North Texas. Through comprehensive social services and education programs, we create access to opportunities for survivors and equip youth with skills to become leaders in their own diverse communities.
Website: http://www.mosaicservices.org
Contact: Le Ta 214-821-5393
Holiday Volunteer Opportunities:
1. Toy Drive
Volunteers will have the opportunity to host a toy drive to benefit the children of Mosaic Family Services. These gifts will be given to children as a Christmas gift from the community.
Dates/Times:
Anytime between November and December 15th.
Address: At the employee’s company.
2. Blanket Drive
Volunteers will have the opportunity to host a blanket drive to benefit families receiving services from Mosaic. These blankets are crucial to Mosaic clients as most of our clients do not have HVAC.
Dates/Times:
Anytime between November and December 15th
Address: At the employee’s company.
3. Christmas Party at Mosaic House
Volunteers will be able to host a Christmas Party at Mosaic House, our shelter for women and children that have been affected by domestic violence and/or human trafficking. Activities can include baking cookies, decorating cookies, hot cocoa parties, holiday movie nights, board game nights, decorating/making ornaments, or anything holiday related.
Date/Time:
Anytime between November and December 15th
Minimum Age to Participate: 18
Address: Mosaic House- confidential location to be released upon project
Educational First Steps
Since 1990, Educational First Steps (EFS) has been transforming well-meaning but resource constrained daycare centers into high quality nationally accredited preschools to turn caregiving into teaching.
Website: www.educationalfirststeps.org
Contact: Coral Bell 214-824-7940 ext:252
Stuff a Backpack Not a Stocking
This holiday season, we’re asking the community to help us fill 1,000 backpacks with fun, educational toys, games, books, and activities that encourage learning at home during the holiday break.
Date/Time:
Backpacks will be distributed mid-December
Donations can be dropped off at our Dallas office located at 2815 Gaston Ave. Dallas, TX, 75226 anytime Mon-Fri from 9AM-4Pm.
And don’t forget to check out this MASSIVE event –
SoupMobile
The SoupMobile has a HUGE event on December 24 and 25th at the Omni Dallas where they need 1000’s of volunteers http://secure.soupmobile.org/
What other holiday volunteer opportunities in Dallas?
✅ Rockwall County Helping Hands
✅ Meals on Wheels
✅ Collin County ReStore
✅ SPCA
And one last thing, here is a list of all of the Food Banks in the Dallas/Collin County metroplex
Go here
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