There may be no better way to get into the holiday spirit than to make the season brighter for those in need. If you’re looking for ways to serve as a family, with friends and/or as an office, here are ideas from agencies that partner with the Office of Public Affairs. If your work team takes part in a holiday service adventure, email photos to ndworks@nd.edu for possible use in future editions of the newsletter.
Click on the agencies below to get to the organization's website.
Center for the Homeless
Adopt a guest or family
Nov. 1 to Dec. 16
Spending range: $100 per child/$50 per adult
Store gift cards for adults are best.
Email holidayteam@cfh.net with questions.
Hannah's House
Help with Holiday Happenings
Donate auction items by Nov. 29 for the Dec. 14 Holiday Happenings event. Drop off items to the business office, 410 S. Spring St. Mishawaka, or email Kate Fischer, community engagement coordinator at Hannah’s House, to make other arrangements. To sign up to help at the event, email volunteer@hannahshousemichiana.org. The deadline to register to attend Holiday Happenings is Dec. 12.
Collect donations at Winding Brook light display
Dec. 24-25, evenings.
Collect donations for Hannah’s House from drivers as they exit the Mishawaka subdivision's holiday light display.
Click to sign up for one-hour shifts.
Gather bus passes and gift cards for guests
Purchase Transpo bus passes, 30-day or two-week, and/or $5-$25 gift cards to Meijer, Martin’s, other grocery stores, Speedway or 7-Eleven for guests of Hannah’s House to earn in the agency's incentive program. Gift cards and bus passes may be mailed to Hannah’s House c/o P.O. Box 1413, Mishawaka, IN 46544, or dropped off at the business office, 410 S. Spring St., Mishawaka. If your family or office collects a large number of bus passes and gift cards, email email Kate Fischer to arrange for her to pick them up.
Hope Ministries
Sponsor a meal
Any time of year.
Collect $250 to provide 100+ guests with a meal.
Email smatteson@hopesb.org.
Serve lunch
Any time of year.
You can sponsor the meal (see above) and serve it.
Email smatteson@hopesb.org.
Tutor a student
During the academic year.
Grades K-6, 4-5 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.
Junior high school and high school, 5-6 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.
Email smatteson@hopesb.org.
REAL Services
Participate in Elves for Elders
"Adopt" a senior by Nov. 27.
Purchase $50 worth of gifts and deliver them to REAL Services by Dec. 6, or deliver them to homes by Dec. 20.
There are REAL Services clients in Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph counties.
Email allen2@realservices.org.
Help in other ways
Donate gift cards for seniors.
The most requested cards are for Meijer, Walmart, Kroger and Martin’s.
Financial donations are also accepted so REAL Services staff can purchase gifts to seniors on your behalf.
Email allen2@realservices.org
St. Margaret’s House
Adopt a Guest and/or Family
Nov. 22 to Dec. 6
tanika@stmargaretshouse.org
Christmas Shop
Dec. 2-23
Help guests “shop” for gifts for their families.
Two-hour shifts, M-F, 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 pm.
maryfran@stmargaretshouse.org
Salvation Army Kroc Center
Be a Red Kettle bell ringer
Nov. 9-Dec. 24
Multiple shifts and locations: RegisterToRing.com.
Collect and distribute "Adopt a Family" gifts
Dec. 6-7
Multiple families are "adopted" during the holiday season.
Lend a hand when gifts are dropped off on Dec. 6.
Distribute gifts to the families on Dec. 7.
Call 574-367-2346, email mytimetogive@usc.salvationarmy.org or sign up at mykroc.org/christmas-volunteer.
Work at "Angel Tree" booth
Nov. 9-Dec. 13
Work at the Angel Tree at University Park Mall in Mishawaka and help people choose an angel (a child) for whom to buy gifts.
Multiple shifts available.
Pick your shift at RegisterToRing.com.
Sort "Angel Tree" gifts
Nov. 18-Dec. 13
Help sort gifts at the warehouse and prepare them for Distribution Day, Dec. 17.
Multiple shifts available.
To volunteer, call 574-367-2346, email mytimetogive@usc.salvationarmy.org or sign up at mykroc.org/christmas-volunteer.
Move “Angel Tree” gifts
Dec. 13-14
Move gifts from the warehouse to the Kroc Center for Distribution Day, Dec. 17.
Multiple shifts available.
To volunteer, call 574-367-2346, email mytimetogive@usc.salvationarmy.org or sign up at mykroc.org/christmas-volunteer.
Distribute gifts
Dec. 17
Shifts are 7 a.m. to noon or noon to 5 p.m.
Help distribute toys, clothing, food and more to people who signed up for Christmas assistance.
To volunteer, call 574-367-2346, email mytimetogive@usc.salvationarmy.org or sign up at mykroc.org/christmas-volunteer.