Last week we received the following message from one of our readers:
I was wondering where I can volunteer the week of, or ON, Christmas day. I thought maybe a list of “places where your help is needed the most this holiday season” would be cool for OVE? Smack me if you’ve already done this and I missed it. 😉
Well, no smacking is necessary- but, thank you for the amazing suggestion! And, thanks for reminding us why we love our readers! You guys are the most giving, dedicated, and generous group of folks we know.
Huntsville Holiday Volunteer Opportunities
In honor of Adriane, here are some places where your help is needed most right now:
HEALS, Inc.
Holiday Need: Volunteers to sort items donated to HEALS, Inc.
Commitment: Volunteers who can help for as little as 2 hours or as much as a full day.
- 7:30am – 4:30pm Mon-Thurs
- 7:30am-11:30am Friday.
Contact: Call 256.428.7560 or email Julia.
Continuing Need: Give the gift of new athletic shoes and socks (all sizes), financial donations
Who is HEALS, Inc.? HEALS, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Huntsville, Alabama dedicated to providing accessible quality, school-based primary health care for children through collaborative efforts with the Huntsville City/Madison County school systems and the medical community.
Find them online: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Merrimack Hall
Holiday Need: Holidays and PJ’s – a social event for adults with special needs- Volunteers are needed to serve food, assist adults with the craft making and to simply socialize with the adults with special needs.
Commitment: Friday, December 20 from 5 – 7pm
Contact: Contact Katie by email or call 256-534-6455
Continuing Need: Volunteers for The Connection, a program of social events designed to help adults with special needs make friends with other adults with special needs and with typical adults. No special skills are required from volunteers – the only requirement is the willingness to interact with adults with disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy and other similar diagnoses.
Who is Merrimack Hall? Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center provides educational and performance opportunities to Huntsville’s established and emerging performers and enhances the cultural offerings of our city. Since opening in 2007, Merrimack Hall has provided more than $350,000 in outreach to the community, in the form of tickets to the underserved, scholarships to master classes and workshops, resources to other local nonprofit groups, and the Johnny Stallings Arts Program for children and teens with special needs.
Find them online: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Manna House
Holiday Need: Nightly Food Distribution volunteers
- Monday, December 16
- Wednesday, December 18
- Thursday, December 19
- Monday, December 23
- Monday, December 30
Contact: Check them out online or email Fran.
Continuing Need: Drop by any Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 4-7 PM for Nightly Food Distribution. And take your kids along! Children age 4 and up are welcome!
Who is Manna House? Manna House is a 501(c)3 Public Charity that provides food assistance to those in need. They are supported by contributions from individuals, churches, civic groups, and businesses. While some food is donated and locally grown most is purchased for distribution programs.
Find them online: Website
Huntsville Hospital
Holiday Need: An organization/church can meet needs for sick little ones with a toy drive- collect coloring books, crayons, infant toys, etc. These items will be used in the hospital pediatric unit and in the St Jude Clinic.
Commitment: Flexible
Contact: Contact Melissa.
Continuing Need: Huntsville Hospital is opening a new Information Desk that is going to be located in the lobby of Blackwell Towers located on the Main Campus. Interested in working one 4 hour shift per week? Please call the Volunteer Services Office at 256-265-8013.
Who is Huntsville Hospital? Huntsville Hospital is an 881-bed hospital that was established in 1895. A community-based, not-for-profit institution, Huntsville Hospital is the second largest hospital in Alabama and the sixth largest publicly owned hospital system in the nation.
Find them online: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Rose of Sharon
Holiday Need: Meal service
Commitment: 10:30am -12:30pm- volunteer once or on a regular basis
Contact: Call 256-536-2970 or check them out online.
Continuing Need: Rose of Sharon serves two meals daily, Monday through Friday, and one big meal on Saturday’s. Volunteers are always needed for food prep and service.
Who is Rose of Sharon? Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen and Thrift Store is a non-profit, 501c3, non-denominational ministry to the homeless and needy.
Find them online: Website
Earlyworks
Holiday Need: Santa’s Village volunteers- help visitors make a holiday craft, write a letter to Santa, decorate a holiday cookie, and navigate through Santa’s house to see Santa and take a picture with him. Volunteers are also needed to tell stories, dress as holiday characters, dress as elves, blacksmith, sell hot cocoa and goodies, and greet visitors at the front entrance.
Commitment: 4:30 PM until 9:30 PM nightly. Come once or many times!
Contact: Call 256-564-8122 or email Nicole.
Continuing Need: Volunteers are needed on Saturdays (10am to 2pm) to help with visitors and birthday parties at EarlyWorks Children’s Museum and the Huntsville Depot Museum. Love the Folk Life Festival days at the Alabama Constitution Village? A number of volunteers are needed every weekday to help with tour groups while wearing period clothing (provided) and participating in activities like candle dipping, printmaking, gardening, and much more.
Who is Earlyworks? The Earlyworks Family of Museums include Huntsville Depot and Museum, Earlyworks Children’s Museum, and Alabama Constitution Village and is a non-profit, 501c3.
Find them online: Website | Facebook | Twitter
The Huntsville Museum of Art
Holiday Need: Volunteers are needed in The Museum Store
Commitment: flexible
Contact: Contact Amy.
Continuing Need: A creative, outgoing and organized volunteer so serve as Hospitality Coordinator for the coming year coordinating receptions for exhibitions, Voice of our Times speakers Series, and the Museum Store.
Who is The Huntsville Museum of Art? The Huntsville Museum of Art seeks to foster understanding of the visual arts and appreciation of artistic achievement. The mission of the Museum is to bring people and art together through acquiring, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting the highest quality works of art.
Find them online: Website | Facebook | Twitter
CASA of Madison County
Holiday Need: CASA is coordinating teams of volunteers to build wheelchair ramps for aging/ homebound Madison County residents.
Commitment: December 20th – December 22nd timeframe
Contact: Contact Jessica.
Continuing Need: CASA is in constant search for teams of volunteers to help keep up with the demand so individuals are not waiting to receive a wheelchair ramp for as long as six to nine months in some cases. This is a great opportunity for community organizations, social groups, companies, churches or groups of individuals to step up and cut the wait time down.
Who is CASA of Madison County? CASA (Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound) is a non-profit agency that provides services to individuals age 60 and older and to the homebound (wheelchair and bed bound) of all ages. Their mission is to provide needed services to aging/homebound individuals that allow them to remain in their homes and age in place.
Find them online: Website | Facebook | Twitter
305 8th Street
Holiday Need: A friendly visit is always welcome or consider these volunteer opportunities:
- Spending time with residents playing games, working on art projects, gardening or just hanging out!
- Seasonal maintenance, clean-up and upkeep
Commitment: flexible
Contact: Call 256-489-2997 or email Andrea, or just drop by.
Continuing Need: 305 8th Street welcomes volunteers everyday. Volunteers can just drop in at 305 8th Street NW, Huntsville, Al 35805 or call for more information. We would like volunteers to come for a tour, discuss our needs personally and see how they feel called to help. There is something for everyone at 305 8th Street.
Who is 305 8th Street? 305 8th Street is a non-profit agency that cultivates a family of diverse disabled adults who are ineligible of receiving state assistance and provide them a home and opportunities that enable them to grow in their community.
Find them online: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Huntsville Botanical Garden
Holiday Need: Galaxy of Lights closing date has been extended for four extra nights – January 1, 2, 3, and 4, 2014. Extra volunteers are needed for these four nights to collect tickets/admission, direct traffic, cashiers, etc.
Commitment: 4 hour shifts
Contact: Call (256)830-4447 Ext. 238 or email Cookie.
Continuing Need: Volunteers are always needed at the Garden! Here are some upcoming opportunities:
- February 20 Sips N’ Sounds: 14-16 volunteers will be need. Duties are check-in, food servers, wine pourers, and glass washing.
- Docent training session: Tuesdays beginning February 25 through April 1. If you are interested in learning more about the Garden and its history and conducting tours for our many visitors, then becoming a Garden Docent is definitely for you!
- March 1 Chocoholics Delight – A Chocolate Dipped History will again be one of the Garden’s most delicious events. Volunteers welcome.
- March 26 Raptors Show
Ongoing Volunteer Needs:
- Data entry – Development Department (Enter volunteer hours/applications, membership, mailings, etc.)
- Tea room – Clementine’s at the Garden (Food servers, assistants)
- Horticulture and Site – Work in one of several greenhouse locations, weeding, planting, deadheading, etc.
- Human Resources – HBG Board Assistant x1/month for 3 hours
Who is Huntsville Botanical Garden? Huntsville Botanical Garden is a non-profit agency which balances year-round botanical displays, strong educational programs and specialized research.
Guest blogger for We Are Huntsville. Are you interested in writing a post for our site? Email katelyn@wearehuntsville.com.
[…] Last, but not least, in the spirit of giving: donating an amount of money to a charity in someone’s name is a great way to give back and embrace the meaning of the holidays, while helping those that may be less fortunate than you. Giving the gift of your time is another way to be generous during this season. Our Valley Events has a great guide to Holiday Volunteer Opportunities. […]