Volunteer/Donation Ideas for Family to Do

There is a senior citizens Christmas dinner. It's put on by a group in Westport, but I don't know who. They just recently asked for volunteers on Fox 4, so you may be able to find it there.
Nursing/assisted living homes ALWAYS need volunteers and love for people to bring cookies...etc.
I am donating diapers/clothes to a group called angelbabies in Olathe. They have this great store to shop and all of their proceeds go to benefit teen moms in the kc area. You can get toys for your 6 year old there and you don't ever pay tax! There are located at 151st & murlen. Behind Price Chopper. the website is www.angelbabiesusa.org.

My church has a Food Pantry Valley View UMC at 95th and Antioch in Overland Park and we are always needing food and other supplies. The number of families who need our help had doubled if not more in the last couple of years and we are always running short. Besides our church or another food pantry in your area is HARVESTERS they are great your whole family including your 6 year old can go with an appointment and volunteer either by seperating cans or bagging up meal bags for children or adults. My girls girl scout group did this and they had a blast and did great I mind you there were 13 6 and 7 year olds and they never complained onece they loved it and had a great time. I highly recommend you give them a call and get all your family and friends together and go you will feel great after you did it. Good Luck and Merry Chirstmas to your family. God Bless.

a lot of churches have food pantries to help needy families so you might want to call some of your local churches and find out if they have one. If you are near Kansas City, then you can always donate to Heart-N-Hand Ministries, Harvesters, or city union mission and there are many homeless shelters in major cities too that would probably take your food donations.

Do you actually adopt a family, so that you are taking gifts to them as you draw closer to Christmas? If you do, then you could have the children help you bake something to take to them when you deliver the gifts. Or you could have your 6 year old help you bake goodies to take to friends and neighbors, to his teacher at school. I saw an idea to make nut chopping easier the other day on tv that he would be THRILLEd with...they put the nuts into a double plastic bag and then beat it with a wooden rolling pin!!! I bet he could get into that!!! lol You are doing a great job of teaching your son that Christmas is about giving even more than it is about giving...congratulations!!

R. Ann
PS As I drove to work this morning I passed by one of our fire stations and I thought of great idea!! Let your little one help you make some cookies or something to take to the fire station and the police station to thank them for working to keep you safe and for working on the holiday!!!

Good Morning S., ( great name I love it) :)That is an awesome plan you have, very kind and thoughtful.
Alot of the Church's have food pantry's. I saw that you are in MO, so not sure what is around or close, just get on the phone and give a few a call.
Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, Lord's diners, Shelters that feed the homeless all have food banks. Would welcome anything you could give them.
God Bless you Abundantly for your giving heart

Merry Christmas S.
K. Nana of 5

Hi Scarlet. I can think of two places off the top of my head: City Union Mission (http://www.cityunionmission.org) and the Ronald McDonald Room/facilities at Children's Mercy Hospital (http://www.childrensmercy.org/Content/view.aspx?id=189). My family had quite an extensive stay at Mercy and the Ronald McDonald room was such a blessing for my family.

Harvesters is the #1 food pantry organization in the city. They also have "Second Harvest" which is for fresh food. Another writer lists their web site.

Also, every church in town will take food, so find one you like and call them too.

catholic charities (not sure how you contact them but i'm sure you could google it!) is great. i have been a recipient of their goodness, and have also donated. they take food - my work does an annual food drive for them. it's so great to give back.

something i am considering for my son is looking into an animal shelter. when i was single i volunteered at a couple in different cities, they always needed help walking dogs, feeding, bathing, etc. not sure if that's how they do it here but something i'm going to look into when i feel my son is old enough.

good luck and happy holidays!

There are three organizations I know of in STL that are really in need and do great work. One is called "Nurses for Newborns Foundation". They help at-risk families who have new babies learn how to care for the babies and provide diapers, baby food, etc. You can contact them at www.nfnf.org. They need donations and people to help organize the warehouses.

Orphan Grain Train collects and sorts clothing, medical supplies, appliances, food, etc and ships it all over the world. One of their biggest needs is help sorting the clothing. You can contact them through www.ogt.org.

Finally, The Rock is a new congregation in Saint Louis that serves local people by fixing their houses and providing any help they can. Just this past weekend, they were helping in the College Hill neighborhood. My husband and his work crew tore down a rickety staircase and built a new one. Others redid doorways and windows, put a roof on a house for a man who could literally see the sky while sitting in his living room, and provided a space heater for a woman whose only other heat in the house came from her electric stove. You can reach them at ____@____.com a Merry Christmas!

Have you tried contacting Harvesters? They need food donations and help! http://www.harvesters.org/

Harvesters is usually always in need of food donations. Some local churches also have food pantries.

I think every county has a food pantry...find your local one and donate:)