Today we’re sharing local holiday volunteer opportunities to do with little kids.
One of the hallmarks of the holiday season is the many ways that you and your family can volunteer for worthy causes that are close to your heart, but sometimes it’s hard to find opportunities that young families can do with babies, tots and preschoolers included.
We have rounded up some amazing organizations that specifically serve families and children right here in the East Valley that could use some help this holiday season.
XO,
2024 Local Volunteer Opportunities for Kids + Families through JustServe
We asked the local coordinators from JustServe for localized volunteer opportunities happening in the East Valley that are open to children–here’s their best recommendations. Heads up–these do fill early in the season, so RSVP early for prime opportunities.
- Arrange to take your children to visit or even do a program (musical or otherwise) for a care facility. Many care facilities have projects posted on JustServe.org or you could just call one that you live by and ask how to arrange that.
- Your family could adopt a refugee family or prepare stockings or goodie bags through Gathering Humanity.
- You can make Christmas decorations for a nursing home.
- You can also take kids over 12 to serve meals at Paz de Cristo. Sign up early!
- There are many donations requested on JustServe.org — you can always find an organization that is simply looking for donations of toys, wrapping paper, etc.
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Canyon State Academy- they are home to 200+ foster children; Cultivate Goodness usually gives a stocking to each child and they ask the community to adopt their various “cottages” resident homes.
Other holiday giving opportunities for young families
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona
- What they do: Though the RMHC is a global organization, our local chapter operates three Houses here in the Valley (2 in Phoenix and one in Mesa) with 78 rooms available on any given night. When families have to travel to the Phoenix metro for treatment for their critically ill or injured child, RMHCCNAZ provides them with a “home-away-from-home” for however long they need, at no cost, with all the comforts of home provided. Last year, they were proud to serve 1,454 families, providing 22,379 nights of rest. Learn more HERE.
- How you can help: There a multiple ways to support RMHCCNAZ.
- Holiday Wishlist Donations: Each Holiday season, RMHCCNAZ hosts “Santa’s Workshop” for families staying at the House, where families can pick out gifts for each of their children, and the children can find a gift for mom and dad. Help make this event merry and bright by donating new and unwrapped gifts for all ages
- Their Amazon wishlist is HERE
- Household Wishlist Donations: Help fill our pantry and keep rooms cozy by collecting household items from our Amazon Wishlist
- Send a Smile: Send joy and positivity to families in need by creating homemade art with your own family! Draw, craft or paint artwork of what “home” and “togetherness” mean to you, make cards, or send words of encouragement virtually to [email protected].
- Provide a Warm Meal: Become a Dinnertime Hero when arranging a warm meal to be delivered to families, or by donating to the meal program
- Provide a Night of Rest: While no family ever pays to stay, it costs RMHCCNAZ $107/night to House one family. Provide a night of rest by donating HERE
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Child Crisis Arizona
- What they do: Child Crisis Arizona’s mission is to provide children and youth in Arizona a safe environment, free from abuse and neglect, by creating strong and successful families. They do this through prevention, intervention and education programs designed to support the thousands of children and families who may be at risk. Their work centers on a vision of safe kids and strong families. CCA provides many services such as an emergency children’s shelters and boys group home; foster care and adoption services; Early Head Start and Preschool Program in both Phoenix and Mesa; individual, family, and child counseling; over 300 different parenting classes, workshops, and support groups; and Safe Kids Maricopa County which educates families about injury prevention and safe practices. Learn more HERE.
- How you can help: Child Crisis Arizona is focused on collecting gift cards for the holidays this year as this gives them the most flexibility to provide gifts to children in our foster care, shelter and early education programs. They are not able to accept any used items, but you can also select items to donate and send off of their Amazon Wish List. To coordinate a gift card drop off, please contact Atasha Hill at [email protected].
- Make a Wish Arizona
- What they do: Make a Wish Arizona grants wish experiences to children between the ages of 2.5 – 18 years battling critical illnesses. Founded and established in Phoenix where the first Wish was ever granted, they operate on the firm belief that a wish can be a game-changer for a child and their family by providing strength, hope, transformation, and community in the face of the harsh realities of their illness. About 21% of Make A Wish Arizona kids come from the East Valley communities. Learn more HERE.
- How you can help: You can help make future wishes come true for Arizona kids by creating a personal Wish Your Way fundraising page. Learn more HERE
- Southwest Human Development
- What they do: Southwest Human Development is Arizona’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to early childhood development and has over 40 programs that annually serves 140,000 children, families, and professionals in the areas of child development and mental health, Easterseals disabilities services, early literacy, Head Start/Early Head Start, family support and child welfare, and professional development and training. Learn more HERE.
- How you can help: SWHD holds an annual Gingerbread Kids Holiday Gift Drive to provide gifts for almost 1000 children in 11 of their various programs. Shop gifts for children in need contact free HERE.
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The United Food Bank
- Aside from participating in or hosting your own food drive volunteers can work at the United Food Bank sites to sort and box food donations, assemble emergency food bags, and assist at food distribution events.
- Children aged 5-15 can assemble emergency food bags and sort food when accompanied by an adult; children aged 16-17 can participate with a signed waiver; must be 18 or older to assist at food distribution events.
- Their website provides a calendar of all volunteer dates and times for the rest of the year.
- Food distribution events appear to be two Fridays per month from 6:30am – 11:30am/12:30pm
- Emergency food bag assembly is several weekday mornings a month from 9am-11am or some weekday evenings from 6pm-8pm
- The two volunteer sites are at the Mesa Convention Center on University Dr and Center Street, and their United Food Bank facility on Mesa Drive and Baseline Rd (by the Maricopa County Superior Court SEF).
- REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER HERE.
