Volunteering around Christmas?
Looking to help, Anonymous emails:
I know a few AOA readers are involved in charitable work, so I was wondering if you could ask ... how one could volunteer to help on Christmas night? I'm staying in the US this year for the holidays, my buddies are out of town, maybe I can make myself useful. THANKS!
We'll expand Anonymous' question to include all the time around the holidays -- not just Christmas.
And if you can think of some way to just do something nice for other people, that would be great, too. Someone once shoveled our driveway while we were away for a few days over Christmas break, and it was just about the best thing ever.
Got a suggestion for Anonymous? Please share!
photo: Flickr user Hamed Saber
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Comments
every year the Delmar Methodist Church does a Christmas dinner for elderly people in the area and they can always use help. Usually they just need people to sign everyone in or stand at the buffet and serve out portions. You can contact George at 4395863.
... said Francesca on Dec 15, 2011 at 4:04 PM | link
Random acts of kindness are always good. A few weeks ago I read an article about a homeless man in NYC that was adored by the people he greeted everyday outside a particular bar. One day he went missing. After groups pf people went searching for him he was found in a nursing home in DC. I sent him a card just to say hi (they said he was lonely and a bit bored) and I told him I'm glad he was alright. I didn't sign the card.
... said December on Dec 15, 2011 at 4:09 PM | link
City Mission in Albany
... said colleen on Dec 16, 2011 at 8:03 AM | link
Thanks for the tips (neither George or City Mission needed volunteers).
Just wanted to close the loop on this one, for those of you who are still looking for a place to volunteer, or the few who might land on this page next year.
First of, be smarter than I am and don't start your research 10 days before Christmas :) However, if you do, below is a list of organizations you may want to contact. I've Mary Kenney to thank for her tremendous help calling some of them for me. Her blog, Pay It Forward, is all about helping people, I contacted her, and she rose to the occasion. Thanks to Kristi for posting an ARA on OTE as well.
This turned out to be more difficult than we expected, though I guess this can be seen as good news too, many charitable orgs had enough volunteers already around Christmas. They could absolutely use some more throughout the year.
In no particular order:
I'll be spending my Christmas Day morning at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Albany Med. Jeff Yule, Executive Director, told me today they could still use some help around Chrismas, feel free to contact him (or me if you want his number). I'm told by Mary that The Eddy Senior Services are in the same situation, so please give them a call if you feel like helping.
Thanks
... said Anonymous on Dec 22, 2011 at 7:51 PM | link