Spread Good Cheer This Year — Volunteer!

The following is a list of volunteering opportunities for the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to the New Year. As volunteering opportunities may change, please make sure to contact each organization for the full details and availability of each volunteering opportunity. And for further volunteering options, please click here to access our full volunteering database.

Last updated 12/5/11

Now until December 9

Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada
Family Shelter Toy Drive
We are looking for individuals, groups, and companies to sponsor a toy drive for the children at our Family Shelter. This 62-bed emergency shelter, opened in 2009, is a unique shelter in Sacramento, designed to accommodate couples with children, single fathers with children, and families with teenage boys. The needs of as many as 14 families are met here with three meals provided daily and support services ranging from transportation to and from school, permanent housing referrals and educational and job-search information. Donors can help grant holiday wishes by providing toys for a variety of ages, from newborn to teenagers. Please drop-off all gifts, unwrapped, to Volunteers of America Administrative Office, located at 1900 Point West Way Suite 270 Sacramento, CA 95815 no later than December 9th at 4 p.m. We can accept donations Monday through Friday during business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Contact: Joy Dickinson, joyd@voa-sac.org, (916) 442-3691

Now until December 9
Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada
Family Shelter Toiletries and Gifts Sets Drive
We are looking for a group or company to sponsor a toiletries and gift sets drive for parents at our Family Shelter. This 62-bed emergency shelter, opened in 2009, is a unique shelter in Sacramento, designed to accommodate couples with children, single fathers with children, and families with teenage boys. The needs of as many as 14 families are met here with three meals provided daily and support services ranging from transportation to and from school, permanent housing referrals and educational and job-search information. Donors can help grant holiday wishes by providing toiletries and gifts sets for our parents. Gift sets can include robes and slippers, pajamas, and toiletries for a variety of sizes, both male and female. To inquire about this specific opportunity, please contact Joy Dickinson at joyd@voa-sac.org. Please drop-off all donations to Volunteers of America Administrative Office, located at 1900 Point West Way Suite 270 Sacramento, CA 95815 no later than December 9th at 4 p.m. We can accept donations Monday through Friday during business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Contact: Joy Dickinson, joyd@voa-sac.org, (916) 442-3691

Now until December 9
Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada
Gloves, Hats, Scarves, and Socks Drive
Our holiday community campaign to collect NEW gloves, hats, socks and scarves helps remind those most in need that they are not forgotten, while providing essential personal items to help ward off the winter chill. Please drop-off all donations to Volunteers of America Administrative Office, located at 1900 Point West Way Suite 270 Sacramento, CA 95815 no later than
December 9th at 4 p.m. We can accept donations Monday through Friday during business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Contact: Joy Dickinson, joyd@voa-sac.org, (916) 442-3691

Now until December 23
Volunteer Center of Sacramento Adopt-A-Family
Volunteers are needed to help with Data Entry, Manning the Front Desk – Distributing/Collecting Applications to/from families, Reading/E-mailing Dear Santa letters, Organizing/Decorating Gift Distribution Center, Loading and Unloading Presents, Making Signage, Creating/Distributing Outreach materials, and Wrapping Presents.
Contact: Katrina Balcius, kbalcius@volunteersac.org or 916-567-3100

Now until March 31
Davis Community Meals – Cold Weather Shelter
Now – March 31, 7 Days/week from 6pm – 11pm and 11pm – 8am.
Davis Community Meals (DCM) is a non-profit, non-denominational organization whose mission is to provide low-income and homeless individuals and families with housing, food, and human services to help them rebuild their lives. We are recruiting volunteers for our cold weather shelter! The shelter provides overnight accommodations to 10 homeless individuals; 8 men and
2 women. It will be open every night from November 15, 2011 to March 31, 2012, all holidays included. The shelter opens at 6 pm each evening. During the hours of 6 pm to 11 pm, there are three volunteers on-site. From 11 pm to 8 am, there are two volunteers on site. Training will be provided.
Contact Harmony Scopazzi at volunteersatdcm@sbcglobal.net or (530) 220-4089

All of December

Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada
Throw a Holiday Party!
We are looking for groups to throw parties for clients living at our various shelters. Decorate our halls with trees, boughs
and garland to celebrate the holiday season with our participants. Arts and crafts activities, decorate cookies – bring
Santa, we’re open to ideas.
Contact: Joy Dickinson, joyd@voa-sac.org, (916) 442-3691

All of December
Be a Santa to a Senior
www.beasantatoasenior.com
Please visit the website to find locations to give Holiday Gifts to local seniors.

All December
Placer Food Bank
The Placer Food Bank is a vital link between food and the people who need it. We serve thousands of people through two primary channels – local food donors and our network of feeding agencies. From the largest community meal programs to the smallest grassroots food closets, the Placer Food Bank reaches people in need throughout Placer and surrounding counties. Placer Food Bank is in need of volunteers support for the busy holiday season including:

• BINGO – Cashiers and sales staff are needed for our BINGO games in Citrus Heights Wednesday and/or Thursday evenings from 4-6 p.m. or 6-10 p.m.
• Community Outreach Team – Help staff our booth at community events. Shifts are 2-3 hours each. Volunteers needed for weekend shifts November 25 – December 24.
• Drivers – Help us pick up and deliver food donations using Food Bank vehicles. A good driving record is required.
• Empty Bowls – volunteers are needed to join our event planning committee, to solicit raffle prizes and to serve on the day of the event.

Contact: volunteer@placerfoodbank.org.

December 1 – January 1, 2012
Capital Stage Company
Ushers for holiday productions of Every Christmas Story Ever Told and It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play!
Contact Lisa Thew at lthew@capstage.org or 916-995-5464

December 11
Wildlife Care Association Nuts and Berries Fundraiser
We need volunteers starting at 9am to help transport baskets and set up the room. We need about 10 volunteers at the event itself, and then about 10 volunteers to help clean up, which typically only takes about an hour. We will also be meeting every Sat & Sun from 10am-2pm, and every Mon & Wed nights from 6:30pm-8:30pm except the 2nd Monday of the month to assemble
baskets for the event.
Contact: Cossandra at wcavolunteers@yahoo.com or (916) 965-WILD

December 13-14
Friends of the Sacramento City Shelter – Holiday Gift Wrapping
9am- 10pm
The Promenade at Natomas, 3561 N.Freeway Blvd Sacramento, CA 95834
The Friends of the Sacramento City Shelter Animals needs volunteers to help with a holiday gift wrapping event at the Natomas Barnes and Noble store. This is a wonderful opportunity for community outreach and PR about the City Animal Shelter and will hopefully bring more people through our doors when they think “adopt!” Although the gift wrapping is free, we will set up a donation jar at the table since the “Friends” organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Volunteer shifts are in 4 to 4-1/2 hour blocks for each event. We need at least 2 volunteers for each shift. The shifts are 9:00 am to 1:30 pm; 1:30 pm to 6:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Contact: Ellen Nakata-Harper at enishite@comcast.net by December 5th.

December 14 – December 27
WEAVE
*Please note that volunteer opportunities with an asterisk are open to teens 14+, with parental consent and supervision. Anyone over 18 will need to complete a DOJ (background check) through WEAVE.
Wednesday, December 14th
*10 AM – Noon: Multiple volunteers needed
*3 – 5 PM: Multiple volunteers needed
Volunteer Description: Help us decorate and sort the toys we have received for our Holiday Toy Shoppe! Volunteer opportunity
is open to ages 14+. Volunteers ages 14 to 17 require parental consent and supervision to volunteer.
Thursday, December 15th
*10 AM – Noon: Multiple volunteers needed
*1 – 3 PM: Multiple volunteers needed
*3 – 5 PM: Multiple volunteers needed
Volunteer Description: Help us decorate and sort the toys we have received for our Holiday Toy Shoppe! Volunteer opportunity
is open to ages 14+. Volunteers ages 14 to 17 require parental consent and supervision to volunteer.
Friday, December 16th
*10 AM – Noon: Multiple volunteers needed
*1- 3 PM: Multiple volunteers needed
*3 – 5 PM: Multiple volunteers needed
Volunteer Description: Help us decorate and sort the toys we have received for our Holiday Toy Shoppe! Volunteer opportunity
is open to ages 14+. Volunteers ages 14 to 17 require parental consent and supervision to volunteer.
Tuesday, December 20th
*9 AM – 12 PM (SET-UP/Organization – OPEN to volunteers 14+): Multiple volunteers needed
12 PM – 4 PM: Multiple Volunteers Needed
4 PM – 8:30 PM: Multiple Volunteers Needed
Volunteer Description: Holiday Toy Shoppe Volunteer. Help us distribute toys to women who have utilized WEAVE’s services!
Includes set up and clean up.
Wednesday, December 21st
10 AM – 2 PM: Multiple Volunteers Needed
*2 PM – 4 PM: (SET-UP/Organization – OPEN to volunteers 14+): Multiple volunteers needed
4 PM – 8 PM: Multiple Volunteers Needed
Volunteer Description: Holiday Toy Shoppe Volunteer. Help us distribute toys to women who have utilized WEAVE’s services!
Includes set up and clean up.
Thursday, December 22nd
*2 PM – 4 PM (SET-UP/Organization – OPEN to volunteers 14+): Multiple volunteers needed
4 – 8 PM: Multiple Volunteers Needed
Volunteer Description: Holiday Toy Shoppe Volunteer. Help us distribute toys to women who have utilized WEAVE’s services!
Includes set up and clean up.
Friday, December 23rd
12 PM – 3 PM: Multiple Volunteers Needed
Volunteer Description: Holiday Toy Shoppe Volunteer. Help us distribute toys to women who have utilized WEAVE’s services!
Includes set up and clean up.
Monday, December 26th
*10 AM – 4 PM: Multiple volunteers needed for clean up
Tuesday, December 27th
*10 AM – 4 PM: Multiple volunteers needed for clean up
Contact: Diana Stantz at dstantz@weaveinc.org or 916.319.4907

December 15-16
United Way California Capital Region – It’s a Wrap!
December 15, 2011 – 8:30am – December 16, 2011 – 8:30am
United Way California Capital Region certified nonprofit partner River Oak Center for Children is holding a Santa’s Workshop for clients and families Thursday and Friday, December 15 and 16. The fun begins both days at 8:30 a.m., so if you’re 21 and over, come on out and wrap gifts with fellow volunteers. Can’t make it either day? Donations of any size are always welcome.
Contact: Alice Gentry, Community Affairs Manager, at agentry@riveroak.org or  (916) 609-5129.

December 16-18
St John’s Shelter for Women and Children – Wrap Presents
10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
Donations of wrapping paper, gift boxes, tape, gift tags, tissue paper, bags and bows are needed as well as 100 Plastic
Storage Bins (66 qt) for gift distribution.
Contact: Sara Amin, samin@stjohnsshelter.org or 916-453-1482 ext. 15.

December 21
Folsom Cordova Community Partnership – Toy Drive 
250 volunteers are needed for The Skoglund Family Toy Drive on December 21. This toy drive will provide toys to nearly 2,500 kids. Other opportunities include sorting food donations and creating food boxes, becoming a mentor or helping out at the Partnership’s front desk.
Contact: 916-361-8684