I live in Fort Myers, Florida, and according to Yellowpages.com, there's only one soup kitchen in the entire area (there isn't even another one as far as Naples, which is almost an hour away). I really want to volunteer in some way on Thanksgiving, but the soup kitchen already has more than enough volunteers, and they basically "denied" my offer to help out. Can you think of any other options? I'm a teenager and my parents are away on business, so I kind of have nothing to do, and I would rather do some charity work than have an awkward dinner with one of my friends' entire extended family.
2007-11-20 06:54:03 · 4 answers · asked by m-cha 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Community Service
Meals on wheels and homeless shelters are great places to work on the holidays, giving back is very rewarding. Local Churches are always passing out meals this time of year!!
2007-11-22 17:00:31 · answer #1 · answered by victor 7707 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Volunteering on Thanksgiving Day is extremely difficult, because organizations are overwhelmed with requests from people wanting to do such on that day. To volunteer on Thanksgiving Day, you need to starting thinking *way* in advance. Even a month before Thanksgiving is too late -- so, start thinking about 2008.
Firstly, you need to establish a relationship with an organization you want to volunteer with on Thanksgiving Day 2008, and to do that, you need to volunteer *now*. Sites like VolunteerMatch can help you find an organization that needs volunteers year round -- animal shelters, food pantries, hospices, assistive living facilities, homeless shelters and hospitals and on and on and on. Decide what you are interested in, how often you could volunteer, what time of day you can volunteer, and then start applying for appropriate opportunities. Remember that finding a volunteering opportunity is a lot like finding a job -- you have to present yourself very well, and you have to contact many organizations before you are ultimately chosen.
Volunteer regularly for an organization or two throughout the year -- even just a couple of afternoons a month -- and when Thanksgiving 2008 comes around, you will have a place waiting for you to volunteer that day.
2007-11-21 14:15:53 · answer #2 · answered by Jayne says READ MORE BOOKS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I served the Thanksgiving meal at an elderly care facility once, so you could look into something like that, either a nursing home or the hospital.
2007-11-20 14:57:37 · answer #3 · answered by Haley 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about a local homeless shelter,you could give some time and company to a lonely soul!
2007-11-20 15:02:56 · answer #4 · answered by gummyworm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋