‘Tis the season of giving, and the best way to teach your children to help others is by volunteering your time, energy and skills to local charities.
Throughout the holidays, bring the entire family to serve others; here is a list that Cincinnati Parent compiled of the best volunteer opportunities for families in Cincinnati:
Warm Welcomes
In the months of November and December, Warm Welcomes is hosting a blanket drive. Each new, throw-sized blanket, along with other necessities and comfort items, will be placed in a Welcome Bag; and will be given to local children in foster care.
Families may purchase or make no-sew fleece blankets and put them in our drop box at the office (6230 Centre Park Dr. Suite D West Chester, OH 45069), or come to tour the location, drop off donations, assist in packing supplies or pick up a Welcome Bag to sponsor on the following dates: 11/27 9:30-11:00 am, 12/10 2-3:30 pm, 12/15 9:30-11 am, 12/28 1-2:30 pm. Other items that can be donated can be found here. If a group would like to arrange a time to volunteer in 2018, please send an email to contactus@warmwelcomes.org.
Bake Me Home
It’s amazing how a simple Bake Me Home Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe jar, all the necessary baking supplies (bowl, pan, spoon, spatula, pot-holder) and the Kroger gift card can help families in need.
Bake Me Home’s volunteer opportunities include: helping fill jars of our homemade cookie mix and tote bags; knitting/crocheting/quilting pot holders; delivering tote bags to agencies; helping bake cookies for fundraisers and troops overseas (not available to young groups); helping with various administrative, fundraising, and graphic design projects; and collecting/donating toothbrushes and toothpaste for the tote bags. If you are interested in a volunteering opportunity be sure to click here. Space is limited for holiday volunteering, but 2018 opportunities are available.
Matthew 25: Ministries
Volunteers play an essential role in the work of Matthew 25: Ministries. The donated goods received must be sorted, counted, packaged, and put on pallets ready for shipment to various parts of the world. There is a job for every member of your family; and come anytime — no appointment necessary. A morning or afternoon’s work will typically produce enough finished materials to help hundreds of people in need in the U.S. and around the world. Their staff will place and train your family members on a specific work station when you arrive, based on greatest need and availability of products. Tasks are simple and easy-to-learn, and many can be adapted to fit a variety of ability levels.
Crossroads
The annual Thanksgiving Food Drive is great for groups, families and adults to help their community and beyond. Crossroads believes that helping those in need is a core part of their ministry; at Thanksgiving, they fill over 12,000 boxes each year. And this year, they’re aiming to fill 14,000 boxes! Both locally and nationally, in partnership with churches and faith-based ministries, Crossroads will be providing Thanksgiving meals to over 115,000 people in our communities. They’ll also be sending 90,000 pounds of food to their partners in South Africa.
A Child’s Hope International (Hands Against Hunger)
It’s National Family Volunteer Day on Saturday, November 18th. The first session is from 9:30 am-12:30 pm; second session 1-4 pm. Your volunteer experience will help provide 150,000 high-protein meals for orphans and vulnerable children. None of the supplies have been donated or provided by the government – everything depends on the kindness of volunteers! Please register individuals or groups here. Want to volunteer on Thanksgiving? There’s a Thanksgiving Day Morning Pack from 8:15-10:45 am which provides 100,000 meals for hungry children. Register here.
City Gospel Mission
Volunteers are critical to City Gospel Mission. There are many ways for you, your group, business, school or church to get involved. If you have a heart for helping men, women and children in poverty, they invite you to peruse the list of volunteer needs during this holiday season.
Safe Families for Children
Safe Families for Children is a volunteer-driven movement that relies upon host families, and a network of support, to open their arms, their hearts, and their homes to host vulnerable children. There are many ways to get involved with the Safe Families for Children movement. Find your calling in one of the roles listed here.
Caring Partners International (CPI)
Volunteers are critical for the success of the Caring Partners ministries. A typical year will see volunteers performing more than 5,000 work hours on behalf of our “Evangelism Through Medicine™” programs. CPI has a continuing need for numerous volunteer activities, including: Office Activities, Landscaping/Outdoor Maintenance, Care Package Assembly, Medical Product Evaluation/Sorting, Non-Medical Product Sorting, Receiving/Sorting/Boxing Products and Warehouse/Office/Building Maintenance. Due to the nature of the materials handled, open volunteering is limited to individuals 12 years of age or older. If you are interested in bringing children under the age of 12, please email w.highley@caringpartners.org to discuss age-appropriate volunteer opportunities.
Vineyard Cincinnati Church: The Healing Center
Join the Healing Center in the mission of helping those in need. This is an awesome place where volunteers are encouraged to use their gifts, skills, and talents to serve others. For holiday volunteer opportunities, click here.
About Ainslie:
Ainslie Gordon is a St. Louis, Missouri native and graduate of the University of Missouri’s Journalism School. Her career has focused on advertising, public relations and event planning. In 2011, Ainslie and her family moved to Cincinnati; and she became a stay-at-mom and founder of the blog, Modhousewife.
Additionally, she was a fashion/trends contributor on Fox 19 and Fox 2. Currently, Ainslie is the Marketing Director for Game On! Fitness. She is also a Girl Scout leader and enjoys volunteering throughout the community.
She lives with her husband and daughter in West Chester and loves all things Disney. You can find Ainslie on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
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