Season of Giving

The holidays are about more than giving and receiving gifts. It’s a time to be thankful for what you have and give back to those in your community who are in need. 

Some prefer to adopt a family, providing Christmas gifts and ingredients to prepare a holiday meal, while others look for opportunities to serve meals to the homeless. These opportunities tend to fill up quickly as the holidays approach. 

This year, consider donating your time at these local nonprofits, which have volunteer opportunities throughout the year. 

Child Life Program at Nemours Children’s Hospital

Child Life specialists at Nemours work to ensure that life remains as normal as possible for children in healthcare settings. This is done through effective coping methods such as play, self-expressive activities and age-appropriate medical preparation and education. Volunteers are welcome to participate in these activities alongside the childcare experts to enrich a child’s day in one of the toughest times of their young lives.

Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando

Give back to our furry friends by working with the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando to exercise, socialize and provide enrichment for the facility’s dogs and cats or by donating your time at one of the organization’s special events. There are also opportunities for your gift to last throughout the holiday season and beyond by fostering underage puppies and kittens before they are taken to their forever home. 

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida

Gather a group of family members or friends to provide lunch or dinner for families staying at one of the three Orlando houses. The kitchens at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, AdventHealth for Children or Nemours Children’s Hospital houses vary in size so check the website in advance for needs. Volunteers are responsible for providing the ingredients for a healthy meal, preparing and serving it, and cleaning up.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

There are plenty of ways you can volunteer at Second Harvest, whether you’re looking for individual or group opportunities. From sorting donations in the warehouse to putting together meals for a variety of Head Start programs in the production kitchen (age 16+ only), you can do your part to fight hunger in the community. 

Shepherd’s Hope

A more individualized opportunity to give back happens at Shepherd’s Hope, which relies on volunteer physicians, nurses and other licensed health care professionals to provide quality health care for uninsured and underinsured men, women and children in the community. Not a medical professional but want to help? There are also front desk and administrative positions. Volunteer shifts last three to four hours, one day per month.